Thousands Evacuated as Mountain Fire Destroys Homes Near Los Angeles

A massive wildfire known as the Mountain Fire has forced thousands of residents to evacuate in the foothills northwest of Los Angeles, as fierce winds spread the flames through neighborhoods and ranches. The blaze, which started on Wednesday in a hillside canyon, has rapidly grown, with flames fueled by dry grass and scrub, spreading over 8,094 hectares (20,000 acres) by Thursday evening.

Fire officials reported that 132 structures have been destroyed in less than 48 hours, with neighborhoods near Camarillo hit hardest. Embers carried by winds as strong as 130 km/h (80 mph) set homes ablaze, forcing authorities to clear the area. Ventura County Fire Department Captain Tony McHale likened the firefighting efforts to “trying to put out a blowtorch with a squirt gun” as the fire advanced rapidly.

As of Thursday, at least 400 homes had been evacuated, and authorities warned that the situation remains highly dangerous. About 250 residents chose to stay behind despite evacuation orders. Several civilians were injured in the blaze, and a significant number of homes, businesses, and other structures were destroyed.

Meteorologists attributed the severity of the fire to a combination of dry vegetation and high winds, worsened by two years of above-average rainfall followed by a long, hot summer. A Red Flag Warning and Particularly Dangerous Situation alert were issued, signaling extreme fire conditions.

In response, utility companies shut off power to tens of thousands of customers to reduce the risk of fires sparked by downed power lines. The United States is facing a particularly intense wildfire season, with 3.3 million hectares (8.1 million acres) already burned this year, exceeding the average annual burn of 2.8 million hectares (7 million acres).