A fierce wildfire shakes California near a famous lake

California faces another natural disaster: a new wildfire ravages the north of Los Angeles since Wednesday. Over the past two weeks, the region has been plagued by constant blazes, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes.

The flames spread uncontrollably

The fire, which started near Castaic Lake, about 60 kilometers from Los Angeles, rapidly spread over 3,800 hectares in just eight hours. The hills near the lake are engulfed in flames, driven by the well-known Santa Ana winds, characteristic of this season in California.

Brent Pascua, from the fire department, explained:

“We have the winds, low humidity, and this vegetation that hasn’t seen moisture in a long time. All of this combined is spreading this fire extremely fast.”

Extreme conditions complicate containment

The National Weather Service issued a red alert in the Los Angeles region and Ventura County due to the combination of dryness and winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, which are expected to continue through Friday.

A new wildfire erupts in California, forcing over 50,000 to evacuate or prepare to leave

A wildfire broke out on the morning of January 22 near Castaic Lake, located about 80 kilometers north of Los Angeles. Within hours, the fire had spread across approximately 39 square… pic.twitter.com/QaHU9FW87j

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) January 23, 2025

Anthony Marrone, chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, stated that “the situation remains dynamic and continues to be difficult to contain”. Crews are tirelessly working on the ground and in the air, using helicopters and planes to drop water and retardants.

Impact on the population

So far, authorities have issued evacuation orders for around 31,000 people, with dozens more under warning. Fred, a resident interviewed by KTLA while spraying his house with a hose, described the community’s fear:

“In less than five minutes, it turned into the largest column of smoke I’ve ever seen in my life. It went dark all of a sudden.”

Relentless efforts to contain the spread

Thousands of firefighters will remain on-site overnight, trying to control the fire. Marrone assured: “We will be on the scene all night to gain more control over the perimeter.” Meanwhile, affected communities face moments of uncertainty and tension as the fire continues its relentless advance.