UPDATED with the latest: At 8 p.m, the fast-moving Canyon Fire in Castaic north of Los Angeles had scorched 1,700 acres. With homes threatened, containment was still at 0%. By 10 p.m., the number of acres blackened had ballooned to 4,856, per CalFire. The count of firefighting personnel on the blaze was 250, up from 150 earlier in the day.
Per a CalFire report tonight, “The fire is burning east with a rapid rate of spread in light to medium fuels. The onshore push is influencing fire behavior, and the fire is threatening 60kv powerlines as well as the communities of Hasley Canyon and Hathaway Ranch.”
Thousands of residents were under Evacuation Orders. By sunset, Evacuation Warnings had been expanded to the east of the fire to the edge of the 5 Freeway, the main artery leading into Los Angeles from the north.
FoxLA reported that the fire had burned portions of the Silver Strand Movie Ranch in Castaic. Reporter Matthew Steedorff posted video in his afternoon report.
ABC’s World News Tonight led its segment about fires in the west with the Canyon blaze.
The Quick Reaction Force — a joint effort between Southern Cal Edison, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Ventura County Fire Department and the Orange County Fire Authority — posted aerial video this evening of the fire.
PREVIOUSLY AT 5:24 p.m.: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this afternoon issued an emergency proclamation in response to the Canyon Fire near Santa Clarita.
“The issuance of this emergency proclamation is a crucial step in our fight against the Canyon Fire,” said Board Chair Kathryn Barger, in whose district much of the fire sits. “It allows us to unlock vital state and local resources more quickly and removes barriers that could slow down our first responders. Our priority is to protect lives, homes, and critical infrastructure, and this proclamation will help ensure that we have the tools and support necessary to meet the urgent needs of our communities.”
The local emergency declaration grants authorities the flexibility to coordinate across agencies, mobilize additional firefighting personnel and equipment, and streamline procurement processes. Barger urged all residents in affected areas to remain vigilant, follow evacuation orders, and stay informed through official channels as the situation evolves.
PREVIOUSLY AT 4 p.m.: A fast-moving brush fire that erupted near Lake Piru in Ventura County rapidly burned toward Magic today, prompting evacuation orders in the Val Verde area west of Castaic and an Evacuation Warning reaching eastward to within about two miles of the theme park. There are no indications that the Six Flags plans to interrupt operations at this time.
The Canyon Fire erupted shortly after 2 p.m., burning in a remote area east of Lake Piru but spreading rapidly eastward through the brush. Initially estimated at about 30 acres, the blaze grew rapidly, and within an hour it was estimated by crews at the scene to have scorched roughly 600 acres. By 4:12 p.m., it was over 1,000 acres with 0% containment.
The latest Evacuation Warnings issued at 4 p.m. indicated the threat of spread was on the fire’s northern flank, away from Magic Mountain.
With the fire advancing, Evacuation Warnings were issued in the Val Verde area. That warning was later elevated to an Evacuation Order, while some surrounding neighborhoods were placed under additional warnings. Evacuation Orders are indicated in red on the map below, while Evacuation Warnings are in Yellow.
Fire crews from Ventura and Los Angeles counties were battling the flames, with assistance from Angeles National Forest personnel. In all, more than 150 fire personnel with 11 fixed-wing aircraft and 7 helicopters were engaged.
The National Weather Service reported that temperatures in the area were hovering around 100 degrees Thursday afternoon with the wind out of the west at about 5 mph.
The blaze was burning about 90 miles southeast of the much larger Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. That wildfire has been burning for close to a week and has scorched nearly 100,000 acres.
There was no immediate word on the cause of the Canyon Fire, and no reports of any injuries.
City News Service contributed to this report.
