Firefighters in Los Angeles gained ground on a fast-moving brush fire called the Hughes Fire that erupted near Castaic Lake. The fire had burned over 10,000 acres but was 36% contained by Thursday evening, with no structures destroyed. Mandatory evacuation orders for over 31,000 people had been lifted, but around 54,900 people were still under evacuation warnings. The fire was driven by high winds and occurred during critical fire weather conditions. Another fire near Sherman Oaks was 60% contained.
The Palisades and Eaton fires, which occurred recently, have been linked to climate change and extreme weather conditions, destroying thousands of homes and causing widespread damage. The Eaton Fire devastated the community of Altadena and burned over 14,000 acres, while the Palisades Fire damaged thousands of structures in Pacific Palisades and Malibu. Both fires happened during extremely strong Santa Ana winds, creating a firestorm. The causes of these fires are still under investigation. The region remained under red flag warnings, and officials warned that any fire that started could quickly grow out of control. Fire officials have described these recent fires as some of the worst disasters in Los Angeles history.
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Containment of Hughes Fire increases as thousands are evacuated
