Evacuations ordered due to new fire that threatens homes in mountains north of Los Angeles

Authorities issued evacuation orders after a new fire affecting the mountains north of Los Angeles, California.

A new wildfire in the mountains north of Los Angeles prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders Wednesday for remote communities near the fire, while Southern California faces another round of dangerous winds ahead of the rain forecast for the weekend.

The Hughes Fire broke out in the morning and quickly burned 9 square kilometers of trees and brush, generating a huge plume of dark smoke near the Castaic Lake area, about 64 kilometers north of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that remain active after three weeks.

Exit ramps along Interstate 5, a major north-south thoroughfare, were closed as flames swept across hills and into steep canyons. Crews on the ground and in air tankers attacked the wind-driven flames.

Meanwhile in the south of the state, officials in Los Angeles prepared for possible rain even as some residents were allowed to return to the charred areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena. The windy weather was forecast to continue into Thursday.

“We're going to see another round of critical fire conditions across Southern California,” Todd Hall, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said in the morning. “At this point it sounds like a broken record.”

For her part, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to accelerate cleanup efforts in burned areas and mitigate the environmental impact of fire-related contaminants. He ordered crews to clear vegetation, reinforce slopes and fortify roads in preparation for possible rain.

Los Angeles County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to install flood control infrastructure and expedite and remove sediment in areas affected by the fire.

“As the fires settle, new challenges arise,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said at a news conference Wednesday. “Rain is forecast and the threat of mud and debris flows in our fire-impacted communities is real.”

The forecast was for a 60% to 80% chance of some rain in Southern California starting Saturday, although most areas probably wouldn't get more than 0.8 centimeters of water, according to Ryan Kittell, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office for Los Angeles.

However, in some places up to an inch of rain could fall in localized thunderstorms, which would be a worst-case scenario if enough falls to trigger debris flows on scorched hillsides.

“But even if the rain doesn't materialize this time, it could be a good test for those communities because this will be a threat they will have to deal with for months or years,” Kittell said Tuesday.

Fire crews filled sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleaned drainage pipes and basins.

In 2018, Montecito, a city 80 miles up the coast from Los Angeles, was devastated by mudslides after heavy rain fell on slopes ravaged by a massive wildfire. Twenty-three people were killed and hundreds of homes were damaged.

Red flag alerts for critical fire risk were extended until 8 p.m. Thursday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Authorities remained concerned that the two large fires, the Palisades and Eaton fires, could break their containment lines as firefighters continue to monitor hot spots, said David Acuña, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL). FIRE, by its acronym in English).

Fire trucks and air tankers allowed crews to quickly put out several small fires that broke out in Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside counties, officials said.

Authorities urged residents to review their evacuation plans, prepare emergency kits, be alert for fires and report them quickly.

Bass also warned that the winds could blow ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city's website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during the new Santa Ana wind event. Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned that the ash could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful materials.

“Even brief exposure can cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer said Wednesday, asking people to wear protective gear while cleaning.

Low humidity, extremely dry vegetation, and strong winds occurred while the Firefighters continued to battle the Eaton and Palisades firesin which at least 28 people have died and more than 14,000 structures have been destroyed since they began on January 7. Containment for the Palisades Fire was 68%, and the Eaton Fire was 91%.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday that his department continues to investigate 22 active missing person reports in both fire zones. All of the people reported missing are adults, he added.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the causes of the fires but has not released any findings.

Several people who lost their homes in the Eaton fire have filed lawsuits, alleging that utility company Southern California Edison's equipment started the fire. A judge overseeing one of the lawsuits on Tuesday ordered the company to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire started.

President Donald Trump, who criticized the response to the wildfires during his inauguration speech on Monday, has said he will travel to Los Angeles on Friday. Barger said Wednesday that they were still finalizing the details of the president's visit.