In California, a prison and thousands of residents evacuated due to a massive fire
California authorities evacuated 476 inmates and approximately 18,000 residents due to the Hughes Fire, which has already destroyed 5,000 acres in the Castaic area.
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The Hughes Fire, which broke out near Los Angeles, California, quickly engulfed an area of 5,000 acres within hours, according to a report from Express US.
The situation forced authorities to carry out an emergency evacuation of inmates and residents in the region.
The fire was first reported in the Castaic area around 10:45 AM. The first site evacuated was the Pitchess Detention Center, which housed 476 inmates. They were transferred to the nearby North County Correctional Facility to avoid the risk of fire.
Simultaneously, a mandatory evacuation was announced for 18,000 residents in the area, including those living near the popular Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park.
Authorities warn that the fire is spreading rapidly and urge all residents to be prepared to leave the danger zone immediately.
Interstate 5, one of the state’s major highways, has been closed in both directions near Route 126. This has complicated transportation, and road services recommend using navigation apps to find alternative routes.
Although residential buildings remain unaffected so far, the growing scale of the fire has raised concerns among local residents. Forecasts for extinguishing the blaze remain uncertain as strong winds and dry weather continue to fuel the flames.
Earlier, it was reported that the Southern states of the US suffered from a rare winter storm that brought snow, ice, and strong winds, disrupting the lives of 31 million people, causing deaths, and leading to mass flight cancellations.
It was also reported that the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills triggered resident evacuations, the closure of tourist locations, and posed threats to Los Angeles' iconic landmarks.