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What We Know About The Wildfires Burning In LA County
Firefighters look for hotspots from the Lake Fire at Pine Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest, by Lake Hughes, on August 15, 2020. (Apu GomesAFP via Getty Images)
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2020 has been a series of figurative garbage fires, but here in California, we're also dealing with actual fires. We've seen several smoke plumes in the SoCal skies over the past few days, so here's a quick look at where things stand.
LAKE FIRE
Fire crews are in the sixth day of battling the Lake Fire, which broke out Wednesday afternoon and quickly exploded, forcing hundreds of people in the Lake Hughes area to evacuate. The wildfire is burning in the Angeles National Forest southwest of the Antelope Valley. [Click here for today's map of the burn zone.]
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THE BASICS
- Acreage: 18,526 acres
- Containment: 31%
- Structures threatened: 4,570
- Structures destroyed: At least 12 homes, 21 outbuildings
- Resources deployed: 1,894 firefighters
Cars charred by the Lake Fire are seen at Pine Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest on August 13, 2020. (Apu GomesAFP via Getty Images)
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CURRENT CONDITIONS
Steep, inaccessible terrain is making it difficult for firefighters to knock down hot spots on the ground. Triple-digit heat and low humidity will bring critical fire weather to the area, and strong wind gusts in the afternoon “will cause instability in the area, with the possibility of another smoke plume over the fire,” officials said in their morning briefing.
MANDATORY EVACUATIONS
- Lake Hughes Road west of Pine Canyon and north of Dry Gulch Road
- Everything east of Ridge Route Road
- Everything west of Lake Hughes Road and Fire Station 78
- Everything north of Pine Canyon and Lake Hughes Road
- Everything south of Highway 138
EVACUATION CENTERS
This afternoon, the American Red Cross annouced it has closed its evacuation center at Highland High School, but said teams would be standing by to set up a new one at Antelope Valley Fairgrounds if needed.
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For animals:
- Castaic Animal Care Center (31044 Charlie Canyon Rd)
- Lancaster Animal Care Center (5210 W. Avenue I)
- Palmdale Animal Care Center (38550 Sierra Highway)
- Antelope Valley Fairgrounds - large animals only (2551 W. Avenue H in Lancaster)
ROAD CLOSURES
- 3 Points Road from Highway 138 to Pine Canyon
- Old Ridge Route from Highway 138 to Pine Canyon
- Pine Canyon Road from Ridge Route Road to Lake Hughes Road
- Dry Gulch Road / San Francisquito Mountainway from San Francisquito Canyon Road to Lake Hughes Road
RANCH 2 FIRE
A firefighter watches the smoke and flames from the Ranch 2 Fire in the hills in Azusa. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
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The blaze was reported Thursday afternoon in the Azusa Canyon area near North San Gabriel Canyon Road and North Ranch Road. It initially threatened homes, but burned away from the foothill cities and into Angeles National Forest. Fire officials suspect arson.
THE BASICS
- Acreage: 3,050 acres
- Containment: 19%
- Resources deployed: 456 firefighters
CURRENT CONDITIONS
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Fire officials expect the fire will continue to burn along its east, north and west flanks today, fed by “steep, rugged terrain and dense fuels.”
“Weather conditions will be hot and dry today with a chance of unstable air from potential thunderstorm activity nearby later this afternoon,” officials said.
Aircraft were grounded and taken out of the firefight yesterday afternoon due to a drone flying in the area.
ROAD CLOSURES
- State Route 39 is closed as Caltrans works to clear debris, according to its latest update
ROCK POOL FIRE
Another fire broke out Sunday in Malibu Creek State Park near Calabasas, though firefighters got a quick handle on it that afternoon.
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Video (tap to expand): Three @LACoFireAirOps Firehawk Paramedic helicopters with @LAFDAirOps & @CAL_FIRE aircraft assisted @LACoFD @MRCAFire @CAStateParks @SantaMonicaMtns with knocking down a wildfire in Malibu Creek State Park near Calabasas, CA. #RockPoolFire @CityofCalabasas pic.twitter.com/aK3zX3YCy4
— LACoFireAirOps (@LACoFireAirOps) August 17, 2020
According to the latest update from L.A. County fire officials, the blaze has burned 93 acres and was 33% contained as of Sunday evening.
“Fire crews will be working through the night to cool hotspots within the fire area,” officials said.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For the latest information straight from local emergency officials, check the following websites and social media accounts:
- Los Angeles County Fire
- Angeles National Forest
- L.A. County Air Operations
- Lake Fire Incident page
- Ranch 2 Fire incident page
MORE ON THIS YEAR'S WILDFIRE SEASON:
FIRE RESOURCES
- Every Day Is Fire Season. Here's How Angelenos Can Prepare Right Now
- How To Find Out About Fire Evacuations In Your Area
- How To Keep Yourself Safe From Wildfire Smoke
- The Air Is Brown — Should I Wear A Mask?
- This Is Why Fire Officials Don't Want You To Stay And Defend Your Home
- What Does 'Containment' Of A Fire Mean, Exactly?
- What Does A 'Red Flag Warning' Mean, Exactly?
- What To Do — And Not Do — When You Get Home After A Wildfire
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