Hughes fire breaks out in Los Angeles, burns over 5000 acres

A new fire has broken out near Castaic, part of Los Angeles County, and has already burned over 5,000 acres of land.

This new fire, the Hughes Fire, started Wednesday morning around 11 am US time (8 pm WAT). It’s growing fast because of two main things: very dry plants and strong winds called Santa Ana winds, which are common in Southern California. People have been ordered to evacuate because of how dangerous the situation is, and several roads have been closed.

Southern California has been dealing with many serious fires lately. The Palisades and Eaton fires were especially bad – they killed 27 people and destroyed many homes and important buildings in Los Angeles.

Read Also: Los Angeles Wildfires death toll rises to 24 as dangerous winds loom

San Diego County also had some smaller fires earlier this week, but firefighters were able to control them quickly. The area is trying to recover, but it’s difficult because the strong winds and dry weather keep creating conditions where new fires can start easily.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wants to clean up quickly to help prevent more problems. “I’m directing city crews to swiftly install reinforced concrete barriers, lay down sandbags and clear debris to shore up burn areas and stem the flow of toxins,” she said in a statement. “These communities have already endured unimaginable loss — we are taking action against further harm.”

The community is facing several challenges while trying to recover. Some people who lost their homes are having trouble finding new places to live because of rising prices, and some are losing their insurance coverage.