Just when Southern California thought it was catching a break from the recent wave of wildfires, a new threat is now tearing through parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
The latest blaze — now officially dubbed the Canyon Fire — exploded in size in a matter of hours, prompting emergency evacuations and a full-force firefighting response.
A Small Brush Fire Becomes a Raging Blaze
What began as a relatively small fire of about 30 acres quickly turned into a monster — scorching a massive 1,500 acres as of late Thursday night.
CALFire confirmed this sharp escalation around 10 p.m. ET, marking another grim entry in California’s growing list of destructive wildfires.
The fire ignited northeast of Piru, a quiet unincorporated town with just over 2,000 residents in Ventura County. It sparked around 2 p.m. local time on Thursday, catching the community — and emergency crews — off guard.
Heat Wave Fuels the Inferno
Adding fuel to the fire (quite literally) was a severe heatwave that had been forecasted earlier in the week.
On Thursday, temperatures near Lake Piru soared to almost 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
The combination of extreme heat and low humidity created a perfect storm for rapid fire growth.
Fire’s Path Shifts Toward LA County
Although the flames are now moving away from Piru, they’ve begun creeping east toward Interstate 5 in Los Angeles County.
This shift has raised alarms for several nearby communities, especially Hasley Canyon, Val Verde, and Hathaway Ranch — not to mention the many power lines that run through those areas.
Officials Urge Residents to Evacuate Immediately
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger didn’t mince words in a public warning.
She emphasized the speed and danger of the blaze, urging residents to obey evacuation orders without hesitation.
“Extreme heat and low humidity in our north county have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread with alarming speed,” she said.
“If first responders tell you to leave, go — without hesitation.”
Her reference to the Eaton Fire, a previous wildfire that caused major damage, was a reminder of how quickly things can go from bad to catastrophic.
Evacuation Orders Spread Across Multiple Communities
As of Thursday night, multiple neighborhoods have been placed under mandatory evacuation:
-
In Ventura County: Lake Piru Recreation Area, Camulos, and Piru
-
In Los Angeles County: Romero, Val Verde, Oak Canyon, Hasley Canyon, and Castaic
While Santa Clarita, the nearest major city, hasn’t been evacuated yet, officials strongly advise people to stay away from threatened zones.
Firefighters and Aircraft Mobilized in Huge Numbers
Over 150 firefighters are currently battling the blaze on the ground, according to Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Andrew Dowd. To support them from the skies, officials have deployed:
-
11 fixed-wing aircraft
-
7 helicopters
These aircraft are working non-stop to drop water and retardant across the affected regions to try to slow the fire’s aggressive advance.
Emergency Shelters and Animal Evacuation Centers Opened
For residents escaping the Canyon Fire, the East Gymnasium at College of the Canyons (26455 Rockwell Canyon Road in Santa Clarita) has been set up as an emergency evacuation center.
Animal care is also being prioritized:
-
Large animals: Pierce College (6201 Winnetka Ave, Woodland Hills)
-
Small pets: Castaic Animal Care Center (31044 Charlie Canyon Road, Castaic)
-
Also for small pets: Agoura Hills Animal Shelter (29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills)
Canyon Fire Joins a Worrying Trend of Recent Wildfires
The Canyon Fire is now officially the fourth major wildfire to hit Southern California in recent weeks.
Just last week, the Gifford Fire tore through 98,000 acres, becoming California’s largest fire this year.
And it’s not just recent memory that’s troubling. In January, a string of fires destroyed over 16,000 structures, burned 40,000 acres, and tragically claimed 30 lives.
The Palisades Fire was the worst, devastating Pacific Palisades, Topanga, Malibu, and the Santa Monica Mountains.
The Eaton Fire also caused major damage, scorching more than 14,000 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains and heavily impacting Altadena.
The Rising Cost of Disaster
The aftermath of those earlier fires was not just physical and emotional — it hit the economy hard.
According to a UCLA report, the damage from that series of wildfires added up to a staggering $250 billion.
Even more alarming? It reportedly knocked $4.6 billion off Los Angeles County’s GDP.
Canyon Fire’s Final Toll Still Unknown
As of the latest update — 9:34 p.m. ET on Thursday — the Canyon Fire remains zero percent contained.
There’s no telling yet how much damage it will cause or how long it will take to bring it under control.
What’s clear, though, is that the fire season is far from over, and Southern California residents are being reminded once again of how suddenly and ferociously these disasters can strike.