Simran Joshi
A fierce wildfire known as the Mountain Fire has begun in northwest Los Angeles and was rapidly spreading Thursday as powerful Santa Ana winds fueled its flames and sent thousands into evacuation.
As firefighters struggled to battle the intense flames, officials cautioned that the danger may only continue to grow worse for days to come, at times mirroring some of the worst California wildfires on record.
A Race Against Time: The Relentless Advance of the Mountain Fire
By Wednesday afternoon, just five hours after breaking out, the *Mountain Fire* had grown from less than half a square mile to over 16 square miles (62 square kilometres).
Blowing in on gusts of up to 61 mph (98 kph) on Thursday, it was fueled by very dry conditions. Captain Trevor Johnson of the Ventura County Fire said: “This is as intense as it gets.”. The hair on the back of the firefighters’ neck I’m sure was standing on end.
The fire burned through communities and farmland near Camarillo, threatening over 3,500 structures and forcing the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents.
Water-dropping helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft spread fire retardant, but the fire remained at 0% containment as of late Wednesday. “We are using all resources, but it was still burning out of control,” acknowledged Andrew Dowd, a Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson.
As thick smoke obscured visibility and embers ignited flames miles away, the pressure on firefighters increased with officials racing to save lives and property.
Communities on Edge: Evacuation and Shelter Amid Red Flag Warnings
Heavy winds and low humidity, which dipped to as low as 9%, amplified the risk of “extreme and life-threatening” fire behaviour, according to the National Weather Service.
That led officials in multiple counties to issue red flag warnings, with the most severe conditions lasting through Thursday evening. Under this volatile atmosphere, first responders urged immediate evacuation, contacting more than 14,000 residents directly to stress the need to leave their homes.
Next door, the situation in Malibu exposed only the vulnerability of the area. The *Broad Fire* erupted near Broad Beach, closing Pacific Coast Highway temporarily while fire loomed over multimillion-dollar houses.
“Residents were told to stay inside while air tankers doused a 50-acre [20-hectare] fire,” the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. Fortunately, by late Wednesday, the containment stood at 60% and did not expand further. Yet, two structures had been destroyed as the wind poured into the boundaries of the communities.
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