Canyon Fire Scorches Nearly 5,000 Acres, Evacuations, Emergency Declared Los Angeles, Ventura

The Canyon Fire rapidly spread through Ventura and Los Angeles counties in Southern California, growing to nearly 5,000 acres with zero containment as of Friday morning. Mandatory evacuation orders affected approximately 2,500 residents and 700 structures, while evacuation warnings covered an additional 14,000 people and more than 4,700 structures, particularly around the Lake Piru recreation area. The fire began Thursday afternoon near Highway 126 and Castaic, with dry, hot conditions and low humidity expected to exacerbate its spread. Los Angeles County declared a local emergency to expedite access to resources, prioritizing the protection of lives and infrastructure. Despite the fast-moving blaze, no injuries or damages to residences have been reported so far. This region had previously suffered significant wildfire damage earlier in the year, underscoring the continued wildfire risk in Southern California.