Canyon Fire Burns Over 5,000 Acres Near LA, Air Quality Declines Sharply

Last Updated:August 09, 2025, 03:13 IST

An Air Quality Alert was issued Friday due to the fire’s impact on surrounding communities.

The city of Santa Clarita remains on high alert (Image: LA County)

Several areas across Los Angeles are battling fast-moving wildfires, with residents forced to evacuate their homes in haste as firefighters work tirelessly to bring the blazes under control. Among the most concerning is the Canyon Fire, which erupted Thursday and has rapidly spread across parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The fire reportedly began near Lake Piru and has moved eastward toward Castaic.

As of early Friday afternoon, the Canyon Fire had scorched approximately 5,370 acres, according to the latest updates from the LA County. While containment efforts are ongoing, the fire is currently 25% contained, up from 0% earlier on Friday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported.

Fueled by temperatures exceeding 100°F (37.7°C) and strong gusty winds, the fire spread quickly through the dry, brush-covered hills and mountainous terrain. Authorities are cautiously optimistic that cooler nighttime temperatures may help slow the fire’s advance, but conditions remain volatile.

An Air Quality Alert was issued Friday due to the fire’s impact on surrounding communities. Air quality in affected regions has plummeted to “unhealthy" levels, prompting the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District to issue warnings for areas including Piru, Fillmore, and Santa Paula.

The Ventura County Fire Department has ordered mandatory evacuations for more than 2,700 residents, while an evacuation warning remains in place for approximately 14,000 people in the region.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger took to social media to urge compliance with evacuation directives. “If you’re in Santa Clarita, Hasley Canyon, or Val Verde, take evacuation orders seriously – when first responders say GO, leave immediately. Keep aware – please don’t risk lives," she wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The city of Santa Clarita remains on high alert, with emergency officials urging residents to avoid affected zones until further notice.

Meanwhile, another major blaze, known as the Gifford Fire, continues to burn northwest of the region, in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and has already engulfed nearly 100,000 acres.

With continued extreme heat and dry conditions forecast in the coming days, the Weather Service has warned that the situation could become more complex and dangerous across Southern California.

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News world Canyon Fire Burns Over 5,000 Acres Near LA, Air Quality Declines Sharply

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