United States, California, Nov 8: More than 10,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate during Los Angeles wildfires, as powerful seasonal winds rapidly pushed flames into residential areas, destroying multiple homes, officials reported on Thursday.
Fire crews, supported by local police, worked to evacuate neighborhoods near Camarillo, where embers were blown as far as two miles (3.2 km) from the fire’s main front, igniting properties, according to Ventura County Fire Captain Tony McHale.
“It’s like trying to put out a blowtorch with a squirt gun,” McHale described the fire, which ignited in a canyon on Wednesday and swiftly spread west under strong Santa Ana winds.
Los Angeles Wildfires
With gusts reaching up to 80 mph (130 kph), the fire grew to over 20,000 acres (8,094 hectares) by Thursday evening, fueled by dense grasses and dry scrub. Several injuries were reported, and numerous homes and structures were damaged or destroyed, McHale added.
The Los Angeles Times has estimated over 90 homes lost to the flames. Cal Fire warned that more than 30,000 residents could be in the fire’s path, as a red flag warning remains in effect for high winds until Friday.
Wildfires Have Burned 8.1 Billion Acres
So far in 2024, U.S. wildfires have burned over 8.1 million acres, surpassing the average of 7 million acres per year in the last decade, according to data from the National Interagency Fire Center.
Cal Fire records also show that California has experienced more than triple the acreage burned this year compared to last year when conditions were milder.
