A fast-moving brush fire erupted Thursday afternoon in the mountains north of Los Angeles, triggering thousands of evacuations as extreme heat and dry conditions created explosive fire behavior.
Dubbed the Canyon Fire, the blaze ignited around 1:30 p.m. near Lake Piru in Ventura County and spread rapidly, growing to more than 2.3 square miles in just five hours. By late afternoon, officials reported 0% containment as flames pushed east toward Los Angeles County.
In LA County, evacuation orders covered 4,200 residents and 1,400 structures, with another 12,500 residents under evacuation warnings. Ventura County saw fewer populated areas impacted, but 56 people were removed from the Lake Piru recreation area.
“This is a very dynamic situation,” said Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd, citing hot, dry weather, rugged terrain, and abundant fuel. More than 250 firefighters, backed by helicopters and air tankers, battled the blaze.
Kathryn Barger, LA County Supervisor, urged immediate compliance with evacuation orders: “If first responders tell you to leave, go – without hesitation.”
The Canyon Fire ignites as California grapples with another massive blaze: the Gifford Fire in central California, now the state’s largest of the year. Burning in Los Padres National Forest, it has scorched 154 square miles, is 15% contained, and has injured at least four people.
With a prolonged heatwave and low humidity forecast into the weekend, wildfire danger remains high across inland California. August and September are historically the state’s most dangerous wildfire months, with experts warning that persistent drought and heavy grass growth have primed the landscape for more fast-moving, destructive fires.
Officials continue to investigate the causes of both major fires as containment efforts intensify.
