New wildfires erupt in Southern California as threat for gusty winds continues
Fire Weather Warnings remain in place through Thursday for parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
Critical Fire threat continues in Southern California Wednesday
Santa Ana winds remain a threat for extreme fire behavior through Thursday. Winds gusts between 30-50 mph are possible in Los Angeles and Ventura County.
LOS ANGELES – More wildfires started in Southern California on Tuesday night and Wednesday, as gusty Santa Ana winds continue to plague the state this week.
On Wednesday morning, the Bernardo Fire started in San Diego, near the Rancho Bernardo area, according to the San Diego Fire Department. One person was reportedly injured by the fire, and the size is 4 acres. The fire department said buildings are threatened. The fire was called the Center Fire upon ignition and was later renamed by fire officials.
Evacuations are in place for neighborhoods along Interstate 15 and Camino del Norte.
About 175 firefighters are working to contain the blaze and keep homes safe, SDFD said.
Formerly known as the Center Fire, the Bernardo Fire burns in San Diego. One person was injured. (@SDFD/X / FOX Weather)
I-15 ramps to Camino del Norte are closed in both directions because of the fire, according to CALTRANS.
Aerial crews work to fight new fire in San Diego
The Bernardo Fire erupted in San Diego Wednesday morning. The fire is threatening buildings near Interstate 15 and Camino del Norte.
In Los Angeles County late Wednesday morning, a new vegetation fire broke out. The Hughes Fire began in Castaic, California, near Castaic Lake. The fire rapidly spread to 100 acres after its start, prompted evacuation orders and warnings and closed a road in the area. The Hughes Fire is 0% contained.
The Clay Fire broke out in Riverside County around 5 p.m. local time Tuesday and spread to 38 acres before the fire's progress was stopped by firefighters. The fire is 45% contained. Evacuation warnings were put in place for areas around the fire but have since been lifted. CAL FIRE reported that one-third of the acres burned were in the City of Riverside, California.
A second fire, the Grimes Fire, popped up in Moorpark, in Ventura County, early Wednesday. Ventura County firefighters made quick work stopping the progress of the fire at 1 acre. Two buildings were threatened by the Grimes Fire, but no evacuations were given.
Firefighters remained on the scene of both fires overnight to mop up the fires or continue putting them out after they've been contained.
The cause of both fires is under investigation, officials said.
Fire Weather Warnings remain active
Fire Weather Warnings remain in place through Thursday for parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties, according to the National Weather Service office in Los Angeles.
Wind gusts of up to 65 mph are expected in the mountains, while 30-50 mph gusts are likely everywhere else. Humidity stays low as well, further fueling the likelihood of rapid fire spread.
Earlier in the week, the National Weather Service issued a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" Fire Weather Warning for the two counties.
Fire weather stays elevated for parts of Los Angeles and many coastal communities along Southern California through Thursday.
Farther inland, the threat increases to critical. Cities within the critical area, like Riverside, Oxnard and Santa Clarita, should remain alert to local forecasts and listen to public officials, the NWS said.
Wildfires still burning in Los Angeles, San Diego
A succession of small wildfires erupted on Monday and Tuesday in San Diego.
The Lilac Fire continues to burn in San Diego County, but forward progress on the fire was stopped Tuesday. The fire burned 85 acres and is 90% contained, according to CAL FIRE.
The fire prompted local officials to issue evacuation orders for those south of Pala Mesa and west of Interstate 15. Evacuation orders have since been lifted.
WILDFIRES BREAK OUT IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY PROMPTING EVACUATIONS, DAMAGING BUILDINGS
Meanwhile, several other smaller fires were quickly stopped in other areas of San Diego County.
HOW DID THE LOS ANGELES-AREA WILDFIRES RAPIDLY SPREAD?
In Los Angeles County, the Palisades and Eaton fires are still burning, but firefighters keep making progress toward containing the several-thousand-acre blazes.
The Palisades Fire is 65% contained and has burned 23,448 acres as of Wednesday.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 21: Burned hills and trees from the Palisades Fire are seen in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood with the City of Los Angeles in the background, on January 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Multiple wildfires which were fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds have burned across Los Angeles County leaving at least 28 dead. (Apu Gomes / Getty Images)
Since Jan. 7, more than 14,000 structures have been destroyed in the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County, leading to the event being labeled as one of the costliest disasters in U.S. history.
The death toll rose to 28 on Tuesday as the Los Angeles County coroner identified another victim from the fires.
The Eaton Fire has burned more than 14,000 acres and is 91% contained.