Imagine stepping out for air and instead seeing smoke rolling over the hills.
That’s the reality for thousands in Southern California.
The Canyon Fire, a fast-moving wildfire northwest of Los Angeles, forces mandatory evacuations.
What started Thursday as a 30-acre brush fire has now ballooned to nearly 5,000 acres overnight—with zero containment.
More than 2,700 people have already been told to evacuate, while 14,000 others remain on edge, under evacuation warnings.
The Crisis Deepens
With triple-digit heat forecasted and bone-dry conditions, firefighters are battling not just flames, but the elements.
“The #CanyonFire is spreading fast under extreme heat & dry conditions,” LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger warned on X.
“If first responders say GO, leave immediately. Don’t risk lives.”
Santa Clarita, Val Verde, and Hasley Canyon are especially at risk.
So far, no injuries or damage have been reported, but officials aren’t taking chances.
Meanwhile, California is juggling multiple wildfires. The Gifford Fire alone has scorched almost 100,000 acres.
And experts say this is just the new normal—climate change is turning up the heat and stretching fire season year-round.
So here’s the question: are we prepared for wildfires that no longer wait for summer to strike?
