30,000 Californians forced to evacuate as fast-moving blaze erupts in northern Los Angeles. The Hughes fire has exploded to more than 10,000 acres, forcing thousands of Californians to flee from their homes. The new fast-moving wildfires grew quickly near Castaic Lake, about 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles, after it broke out around 10:53 am local time on Wednesday, January 16. More than 31,000 residents are under evacuation order and 21,000 under evacuation warnings.
Donald Trump made the thinly-veiled threat to Fox News Sean Hannity on Wednesday, “I don’t think we should give California anything until they let water flow down” He told Hannity during a Fox interview that aired on Wednesday night. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he will donate $1 million to help in relief efforts for those affected by the wildfires raging across Los Angeles.
Firefighters are fighting to extinguish the flames at its worst, spreading over 23 football fields every minute, which is now 14% contained. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the working of state resources and said he’ll “provide the federal government with whatever it needs to extinguish this fire”. Despite the relentless weather conditions, firefighters made progress on the fire, bringing 36% containment and burning 10,396 acres. Over 1,100 firefighters had been “strategically pre positioned” across southern California to address the “ongoing critical fire weather”, according to Cal Fire. The night before, crews dropped 30,678 gallons of fire retardant and over 100,000 gallons of water on the fire.
Actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, winner of two Oscars for The Silence of the Lambs and The Father, and his wife lost two homes in the Pacific Palisades fire. “The only thing we take with us is the love we give” said Hopkins in an Instagram post. Hotel heiress Paris Hilton confirmed earlier this week she had lost her home in Malibu. “The heartbreak is truly indescribable” said Hiltion in an Instagram post then later uploaded a video of what is left of her house. Singer songwriter Dua Lipa relieved in a post that she had fled the city and is safe. She described the situation as “Absolutely devastating and scary couple of days in LA”, “Thinking of all my friends and the people of the city who had to evacuate their homes”, she wrote.
The Palisades Fire has burned 23,448 acres and is 75% contained.
The Eaton Fire burned 14,021 acres and is 95% contained.
The Hughes Fire burned 10,396 acres and is 36% contained.
“We’re all in this together,” said California Governor Newsom.
