LA fires live updates: Evacuation orders issued as Border 2 fire explodes

LA fires live updates: Evacuation orders issued as Border 2 fire explodes
Firefighters tackle raging San Diego wildfire as evacuation orders issued

San Diego County’s Border 2 fire exploded Friday morning, spreading quickly over more than 4,200 acres early Friday.

Driven by critical fire weather, the new blaze has forced evacuation orders and schools announced they would close for the day.

“The main fire spread they are concerned about is generally spreading in a northern direction,” Cal Fire Captain Robert Johnson said of fire crews working to battle the Border fire.

He told The San Diego Union-Tribune early Friday that firefighters are seeing “some extreme fire behavior currently.”

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County-based Hughes fire, which exploded near Castaic Lake on Wednesday, has spread across 10,396 acres and is at 56 percent containment. And, the Laguna Fire, which started in Ventura County on Thursday, is now 70 percent contained after engulfing 94 acres.

Nine fires are raging across Southern California, including the deadly and destructive Palisades and Eaton fires.

Later in the day, President Donald Trump is expected to visit impacted areas to survey the damage. It’s part of his first presidential trip since taking office.

“And I hope the president comes back after his visit tomorrow and is here for not just the short run, but the long haul,” Governor Gavin Newsom said Thursday.

LA switches attention to flooding precautions as Palisades fire continues to burn

James Liddell24 January 2025 15:45

Latest maps show evacuation orders and warnings for the Border 2 fire

Here are the latest maps of the evacuation orders (red) and warnings (yellow) in effect for the Border 2 fire. The zones are near the San Diego wildlife refuge
Here are the latest maps of the evacuation orders (red) and warnings (yellow) in effect for the Border 2 fire. The zones are near the San Diego wildlife refuge (@SDSheriff/X)

The evacuation area for the Border 2 fire is a large swath stretching north to Otay Lakes Road, east to state Route 94 and Dulzura, and west to Lower Otay Lake. It also includes the Otay Open Space Preserve.

Julia Musto24 January 2025 15:38

Schools shutter amid Border 2 fire

Julia Musto24 January 2025 15:31

Border 2 fire burns close to San Diego County’s Otay Water District service area

Julia Musto24 January 2025 15:27

The National Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems fleet has been activated at the Channel Islands of California

Julia Musto24 January 2025 15:25

Photos show California wildfires in action on Thursday

A charred road sign and damaged utility pole stand amid a scorched landscape left by the Hughes fire near Santa Clarita, California, on Thursday. The fire is now more than half contained
A charred road sign and damaged utility pole stand amid a scorched landscape left by the Hughes fire near Santa Clarita, California, on Thursday. The fire is now more than half contained (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)
A smoldering tree trunk continues to burn amid the charred landscape of the Hughes fire in Santa Clarita, California, on Thursday. The wildfire has torn over more than 10,000 acres
A smoldering tree trunk continues to burn amid the charred landscape of the Hughes fire in Santa Clarita, California, on Thursday. The wildfire has torn over more than 10,000 acres (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)
Firefighters work while the Sepulveda fire is burning in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday. The blaze is 60 percent contained
Firefighters work while the Sepulveda fire is burning in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday. The blaze is 60 percent contained (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)
Smoke rises over the charred hills of the Angeles National Forest following the Hughes fire near Santa Clarita, California, on Thursday. More than 1,700 personnel are working on the fire
Smoke rises over the charred hills of the Angeles National Forest following the Hughes fire near Santa Clarita, California, on Thursday. More than 1,700 personnel are working on the fire (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)
Firefighters work while the Sepulveda fire is burning in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday. The wildfire broke out in the early hours of the morning
Firefighters work while the Sepulveda fire is burning in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday. The wildfire broke out in the early hours of the morning (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)
Julia Musto24 January 2025 15:23

California launches revamped fire relief website

Fire victims can use the website to find information on how to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief, file insurance claims, replace documents and return to their homes safely.

Graeme Massie24 January 2025 15:15

Here’s where the Southern California wildfires stand on Friday morning

The Hughes fire burns north of Los Angeles on Wednesday. The fire is 56 percent contained
The Hughes fire burns north of Los Angeles on Wednesday. The fire is 56 percent contained (Getty Images)

There are nine fires currently burning across California.

The deadly Eaton fire is now 95 percent contained, and firefighters have made serious progress on the Palisades fire. The 23,448-acre blaze is 77 percent contained.

The 10,396-acre Hughes fire, which started on Wednesday, is now at more than half containment, and crews quickly got a handle on Thursday’s much smaller Laguna fire.

But, the San Diego County Border 2 fire has picked up steam, jumping from under a thousand acres to more than 4,000 by Friday morning. That fire is at 10 percent containment.

Thursday’s Sepulveda fire near the 405 Freeway did not grow and remained at 60 percent containment. Two other fires that started Thursday were much smaller.

Riverside’s Clay fire is 90 percent contained.

Julia Musto24 January 2025 15:10

In photos: Chula Vista residents brace as Border 2 fire flickers in darkness

James Liddell24 January 2025 14:45

The Border fire is now 4,250 acres and is 10 percent contained

Julia Musto24 January 2025 14:38

Source: independent.co.uk