Fire crews in Southern California were working Friday to contain the Canyon Fire, which has surged to nearly 5,000 acres and forced thousands of residents in northern Los Angeles and Ventura counties to evacuate.
Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd said crews are “trying to build a box” around the blaze to keep it from reaching communities under evacuation orders. The fire, the largest of several sparked by intense heat in recent days, ignited Thursday near Holser Canyon Road northeast of Piru and spread rapidly in 100-degree weather.
Initially estimated at 30 acres, the fire grew to more than 1,000 acres within hours and reached 4,856 acres by Friday morning, pushing east toward Castaic and Interstate 5. Containment remained at zero percent as about 400 firefighters battled the flames, supported by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Nightfall brought some cooling, but officials said dangerous conditions persisted. As of late Thursday, evacuation orders covered 2,500 residents and 700 structures, while 14,000 more people and 4,700 structures were under evacuation warnings. L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger urged residents to leave immediately if ordered, citing extreme heat, low humidity, and fast-moving flames.
The fire has also raised concerns for the 5,000 inmates housed at the Pitchess Detention Center, located just outside the evacuation warning zone. The ACLU warned of potential danger, noting a similar close call during January’s Hughes Fire. The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department said the safest strategy is to shelter in place, citing defensible space and building design.
Lake Piru Recreation Area and Piru Canyon Road remain closed, and an evacuation center has been set up at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita. The National Weather Service warned that while slight cooling is expected over the weekend, high pressure will keep temperatures above normal, with conditions likely to heat up again early next week.
