Wildfires in Southern California continue to affect the region, with the latest blaze, The Hughes Fire in Castaic (north of Santa Clarita) breaking out on Wednesday. The Hughes Fire put more than 50,000 people under evacuation orders and warnings in the northern Los Angeles County community, burning 10,176 acres in L.A. and Ventura counties. It was 36% contained as of Thursday evening.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department told CNN that the Hughes Fire has already torched more than 10,000 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties since it ignited Wednesday, with more than 14,000 structures are threatened, according to Los Angeles County’s Coordinated Joint Information Center. About 31,000 area residents were under evacuation orders and 23,000 under evacuation warnings Wednesday evening due to the Hughes Fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
"Critical fire conditions" and red-flag warnings for Santa Ana winds are in effect for Los Angeles and neighboring Ventura counties, according to forecasters. Some much-needed rain is also in the forecast this weekend for Southern California, however, the expected precipitation also brings new risks of mudslides, flash flooding and toxic runoff.
According to the National Weather Service up to 1.5 inches of rain could fall over the San Gabriel Mountains, while most of Los Angeles County could see around half an inch starting Saturday afternoon and lasting possibly through Monday. The weather service said in its weekend forecast that "there is also a risk of thunderstorms (10-20% chance), capable of producing small hail and isolated brief heavy downpours with rainfall rates up to 0.50 in/hr."
For the latest up-to-date information regarding the California wildfires, head to CBS NEWS.
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