Southern California Canyon Fire Forces 4,200 Evacuations Near Los Angeles

A fast-moving brush fire known as the Canyon Fire ignited near Lake Piru north of Los Angeles, rapidly spreading over 4.1 square kilometers and prompting evacuation orders for approximately 4,200 residents and 1,400 structures in Los Angeles County, with an additional 12,500 residents under evacuation warnings. The fire, fueled by extreme heat, low humidity, and rugged terrain, remained uncontained as firefighting crews, including 250 personnel and multiple aircraft, intensified efforts to control it. Ventura County also issued evacuations in less populated areas near recreational sites like Lake Piru, while air quality concerns arose due to smoke drifting toward Los Angeles County. LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger emphasized the urgency of evacuations given the dangerous conditions that allow flames to spread rapidly. This blaze adds to California's wildfire challenges amid the ongoing Gifford Fire in Central California, the state's largest wildfire of the year, which has burned nearly 399 square kilometers and is only 15 percent contained. Authorities continue investigating the Canyon Fire's cause while managing resource allocation between multiple active wildfires.