Beneficial weekend rain nears drought-stricken Southern California
The once rapidly-growing Laguna Fire near Camarillo in Ventura County has been contained at 50 acres.
Southern California remains under siege as wildfires rage
Southern California continues to grapple with devastating wildfires, with at least two new blazes erupting in Los Angeles County, forcing residents to evacuate. Firefighters face a challenging uphill battle as critical fire conditions persist. One glimmer of hope for fire crews in the coming days lies in the potential for rain. FOX News Chief Correspondent Jonathan Hunt joins FOX Weather from Pacific Palisades to provide further insights.
Fast Facts
- Firefighters continue to battle nine wildfires in Southern California, which have scorched more than 50,000 acres.
- Border 2 Fire near San Diego prompted evacuation orders early Friday morning.
- Beneficial rain will peak in coverage Sunday and could trigger mudslides in burn-scar areas.
LOS ANGELES – Southern California is grappling with a surge in wildfires, with nine active fires currently burning across the region and forcing evacuations. However, there's encouraging news as containment efforts are increasing.
WATCH: HUGHES FIRE INFERNO CONSUMES HILLS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Watch: Chopper swoops low to douse flames from Hughes Fire in Southern california
A helicopter was seen swooping low over the hills near Castaic, California, on Wednesday, as efforts continued to contain the Hughes Fire. Footage here was recorded by Jesus Calvillo.
Two massive fires, the deadly Palisades and Eaton fires, have been raging near Los Angeles since Jan. 7, with containment efforts reaching 75% and 95%, respectively. A number of new outbreaks are still appearing this week, including several in the counties of Ventura and Riverside and near San Diego.
On Friday, President Donald Trump was scheduled to tour the devastated Pacific Palisades neighborhood, where he will receive a briefing on the deadly fires while thousands remain under evacuation orders.
A new wildfire, dubbed "Border 2," erupted Friday near Chula Vista, just 9 miles southeast of San Diego, prompting early morning evacuation orders. The blaze, currently spanning over 5,000 acres with low containment near the U.S.-Mexico border, has forced schools to close in the area as residents flee for safety. Nearly 700 firefighters are now on the scene battling the blaze, according to San Diego County Fire.
"The problem is we keep having fires pop up, and they're popping up in very populated areas," said FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin.
As of Friday, the Hughes Fire in Los Angeles County has also forced thousands to evacuate. The once rapidly-growing Laguna Fire near Camarillo in Ventura County has been contained at nearly 100 acres. The remote location and challenging terrain of the Gilman Fire, situated between Encinitas and San Diego, are also significantly hampering the firefighting effort.
Southern California Edison published a report Thursday saying that a car hit and damaged a utility pole in Camarillo shortly before the Laguna Fire broke out. SoCal Edison did not say whose vehicle it was, and it is also unknown what led to the crash.
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Inferno from Hughes Fire consumes hills in Los Angeles County
Video captured of the Hughes Fire captured by Bernard Deyo shows the rapidly spreading fire and wildfire smoke near Castaic Lake.
"It's been truly heartbreaking," Merwin said. "These are all areas that were lush and green just about six months ago. It really has been a quick onset at how crispy the tinder has gotten."
While wind gusts are expected to be less severe Friday, ongoing low humidity remains a major concern. With humidity levels hovering between 10% and 15% in some areas, it is creating highly flammable conditions.
MUCH-NEEDED RAIN EYES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEKEND: WHAT IT MEANS FOR BURN SCARS, WILDFIRES
National Guard drop fire retardant on California Hughes Fire
Footage shot from the cockpit of a firefighting aircraft shows a U.S. Air National Guard pilot dropping fire retardant over the Hughes Fire in Southern California on Wednesday.
Rain on the way, but comes with risks
The FOX Forecast Center said an upper-level disturbance will likely swing into the region from the Pacific Ocean this weekend, bringing the first widespread rain in months.
Rain and mountain snow will begin Saturday and peak in coverage Sunday before winding down Monday. About a half-inch of rain may fall in the lower elevations, and multiple inches of snow are expected above 4,000 feet.
The rain, while beneficial, does present risks.
Mudslides within burn-scar areas in Southern California are possible during the rain, and officials warned that charred hillsides are in danger of giving way even if there isn't rain. The burned landscape, littered with broken water mains, and the influx of water from firefighting efforts have destabilized hillsides in the region.