Canyon Fire Burns Over 5,000 Acres Near Los Angeles, Air Quality Drops Sharply
An Air Quality Alert was issued on Friday owing to the fire’s impact on nearby communities.
Several regions across Los Angeles are grappling with fast-moving wildfires, with residents compelled to vacate their homes in haste as firefighters work relentlessly to bring the blazes under control. Among the most worrying is the Canyon Fire, which broke out on Thursday and has swiftly spread across parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The blaze reportedly started near Lake Piru and has moved eastwards towards Castaic.
As of early Friday afternoon, the Canyon Fire had ravaged around 5,370 acres, according to the latest updates from LA County. While containment measures are underway, the fire is currently 25% contained, up from 0% earlier on Friday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection informed.
Driven by soaring temperatures above 100°F (37.7°C) and strong gusty winds, the blaze spread rapidly through dry, brush-covered hills and mountainous stretches. Authorities remain cautiously hopeful that cooler night-time temperatures could help slow the fire’s progress, though the situation remains unpredictable.
An Air Quality Alert was issued on Friday due to the fire’s effect on surrounding localities. Air quality in the affected areas has deteriorated to “unhealthy” levels, prompting the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District to release advisories for places including Piru, Fillmore and Santa Paula.
The Ventura County Fire Department has enforced mandatory evacuations for over 2,700 residents, while an evacuation warning continues for about 14,000 people in the region.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger took to social media to stress the importance of complying with evacuation orders. “If you are in Santa Clarita, Hasley Canyon or Val Verde, take evacuation orders seriously – when first responders say GO, leave at once. Stay alert – please do not risk lives,” she posted on X.
The city of Santa Clarita continues to be on high alert, with emergency officials urging residents to stay away from affected areas until further notice.
Meanwhile, another large wildfire, called the Gifford Fire, is still burning northwest of the area, in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and has already consumed nearly 100,000 acres.
With persistent extreme heat and dry weather expected in the coming days, the National Weather Service has cautioned that the situation could become even more complex and dangerous across Southern California.
