Mapping the Hughes wildfire that scorched the Los Angeles mountains climate crisis news

The new wildfire has scorched more than 3,750 hectares of land near Castaic Lake, about 80 km (50 miles) north of Los Angeles.

More than 50,000 residents in the US state of California have been warned to evacuate their homes after a rapidly growing wildfire in the mountains north of Los Angeles.

The Hughes Fire has burned about 3,750 hectares (9,266 acres) since it broke out on Wednesday and is still not fully contained.

This latest fire has increased the pressure on regional firefighters, who have largely contained two major wildfires in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the Palisades and Eaton fires. More than 4,000 firefighters are now battling the Hughes Fire, according to LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marone.

Where is the Hughes Wildfire burning?

The Hughes Fire is burning on Hughes Road, close to Castaic Lake, a large reservoir and popular recreation area north of Los Angeles.

The area is about 64 km (40 mi) from the Eaton and Palisades fires, which have been burning for three weeks.

An estimated 18,600 people live in the local community where massive flames have destroyed trees and bushes in the hills surrounding Castaic Lake.

What is the status of the Palisades and Eaton fires?

At least three large active fires are burning across the state, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. they include:

• Palisades Fire – 9,489 hectares (23,448 acres) burned, 70 percent burned.
• eaton fire – 5,674 hectares (14,021 acres) burned, 95 percent burned.
• hughes fire – 3,750 hectares (9,266 acres) burned, 0 percent burned.

Four smaller fires, including Lilac, Clay, Sepulveda and Center, have also burned dozens of hectares of land across the state.

Containment means creating a barrier around a fire to stop it from spreading. However, this does not mean that the fire is completely under control or safe.

What’s the reason behind these latest fires?

Like the Palisades and Eaton fires, strong winds through mountain valleys, coupled with warm temperatures and low humidity, have fueled the Hughes Fire.

California often experiences exceptional drought conditions. Drought causes trees, grass and soil to lose moisture, making the landscape highly flammable.

Winter wildfires, once rare, have become more common. As the climate warms, the idea of ​​a distinct wildfire season has turned into the reality of year-round wildfires.

Large parts of California are currently experiencing abnormally dry levels and areas of the state’s east are experiencing severe and extreme levels of drought.

Water reserves have reached critically low levels, threatening both agriculture and the water supply for millions of residents.

What are the Santa Ana winds?

Santa Ana winds are strong, dry winds that occur in Southern California, typically in the autumn and winter months.

These winds blow from inland desert areas toward the coast and are caused by high pressure systems over the Great Basin, which is further inland, and reach hurricane-level speeds of 160 km/h (100 mph). She goes.

How big are the LA wildfires?

The LA fire has so far burned at least 16,425 hectares (40,587 acres) of land. This is approximately the same size as Washington, D.C., about half the size of Philadelphia, one eighth the size of Los Angeles, or the equivalent of about 30,000 football fields.

California typically experiences thousands of wildfires each year. These fires range from small bushfires to large, destructive fires that burn thousands of hectares of land.