A fast-moving wildfire ripped through Castaic on Wednesday, quickly growing to more than 9,000 acres and forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes and head to safety. But how exactly did it grow so quickly?
Weather conditions in Southern California, dry due to lack of rain, and persistent Santa Ana winds created the perfect combination to fan the flames and spread. Add plants that dry out due to lack of moisture and serve as fuel for the fire.
“This vegetation is very dry,” said Fred Fielding, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. There’s a lot of light grass growing there,” he said. Fires can start, and when a fire penetrates old vegetation, there’s a lot of energy there, and when you combine that with the wind, you get a recipe for a very high rate of fire spread. ”
The region is particularly dry, with little rain in recent months. As a result, vegetation remained dry and the return of warm Santa Ana-style weather reduced humidity levels in the Southland. Although the winds are not as dramatic as they were earlier this month, they continue to contribute to the spread of fires.
“The situation we are in is not as dire as the situation we have been in over the last week or two, but what we saw today is a stark contrast to the situation we are in in terms of vegetation. It shows,” Robert said. Garcia, U.S. Forest Service Fire Chief. “So while we’re not in a particularly dangerous situation wind-wise, the wildland fire situation is critical.”
A red flag warning is in effect for most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties until 10 a.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
The Hughes Fire is burning near Castaic, with smoke affecting surrounding areas including Santa Clarita, Ventura and Thousand Oaks. NBC4 Meteorologist Melissa McGee explains.
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