Sept 18, 2020; Valyermo, CA, USA; Los Angeles County Firefighters 1106 work to extinguish the Bobcat Fire in Valyermo, California, one of the many neighborhoods near Angeles National Forest that have been threatened by the Fire. The Bobcat Fire, which has been burning since Sept. 6, is now 15% contained. Mandatory Credit: Harrison Hill-USA TODAY
Ventura County, California – A fast-moving brush fire in the mountains of southern California has forced thousands of residents to evacuate as firefighters race to contain the flames under punishing heat and record-dry conditions.
The Canyon fire ignited Thursday afternoon in a remote stretch of Ventura County and spread rapidly east into Los Angeles County. By late Thursday night, the blaze had scorched roughly 4,800 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
By Friday afternoon, officials reported the fire was 25% contained, but the threat was far from over. Temperatures in the region have climbed to 100 degrees, with humidity at critically low levels. Vegetation on the surrounding hillsides is so parched that it has acted like tinder, accelerating the fire’s spread. Cal Fire warned that the flames were advancing toward the community of Val Verde.
Fire crews worked through the night to protect homes and infrastructure, taking advantage of cooler nighttime temperatures. By Friday morning, the fire’s behavior had slowed, though conditions remain volatile. “They were putting it all on the line to bring this fire under control,” said Andrew Dowd, spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department. One firefighter sustained a minor injury; no civilian injuries have been reported. While no homes have been lost, two smaller structures were destroyed.
Los Angeles County officials credited “aggressive” air and ground attacks with preventing greater damage. “Even as the high heat and dry conditions pushed the fire’s growth, hard work and operational efficiency stopped widespread damage,” the county said in a statement.
Authorities urged residents to heed evacuation orders without hesitation. “Extreme heat and low humidity in our north county have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread with alarming speed,” said LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
The Canyon fire is not the only wildfire taxing California’s firefighting resources. In central California, the Gifford fire has become the state’s largest blaze of the year, burning more than 99,200 acres in the Los Padres National Forest. That fire, which began last week as at least four smaller blazes along State Route 166, is just 15% contained. It has injured at least four people and continues to threaten hundreds of homes.
Wildfire danger is expected to remain high through the weekend as a heatwave intensifies. Federal fire analysts warn that the mountains and deserts of southern California are experiencing “record dry levels,” with conditions likely to worsen in the weeks ahead as autumn winds arrive. In such an environment, a single spark can still become an uncontrollable inferno.
