Firefighters north of Los Angeles were working Friday, Aug. 8, togain control of a wildfire that sparked a day earlierand exploded in size, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes as flames neared several communities. TheCanyon Firewas first reported around 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 in a mountaineous area near Lake Piru, a resevior located about 50 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The blazesoon threatened ranches and other nearby properties. Fueled by dry conditions, high heat and strong winds, the fire has since torched 4,856 acres of land in Ventura and Los Angeles counties,according to Cal Fire, the state's firefighting agency. The cause of the blaze remains unknown and so far no structures have been reported damaged. The fire was last pushing toward power lines and the communities of Hasley Canyon, Hathaway Ranch and Val Verde, according to a late night update from fire officials. Multiple helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, including severalair tankers, droppedwater and retardant on the flames throughout the afternoon. Officials also requested additional firefighters, including hand crews, engines and bulldozers, Andrew Dowd, a spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department, told theVentura County Star, part of the USA TODAY Network. "Firefighters are working incredibly hard through steep terrain in hot weather with very dry fuels," Dowd said. The Canyon Firewasn't the only dangerous blaze that's recently led to evacuations in California and others states in the West. TheGifford Fire burning in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo countieshas consumed 155 square miles of land, making it the largest wildfire the state has seen this year. The blaze, which was 15% contained as of Aug. 8, is threatening hundreds of structures and has injured at least three people, officials said. In Riverside County, south of Palm Springs, the Rose Fire has burned 1,690 acres of land and was at 30% containment, according to Cal Fire. The blaze forced evacuation orders and is threatening nearly 500 structures, authorities said. In Colorado, firefighters werebattling blazes across the statethat ignited amid a heat wave. One of the fires, the Lee Fire, was estimated to have burned 45,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire the state has seen this year. Well before the start of wildfire season, which runs from the summer through October, California experienced a number of devastating blazes that swept through the southern region of the state. ThePalisades and Eaton fires ignited in early January and exploded in size, fueled by record winds and drought conditions. The blazes tore across working class communities and ritzy cliffside mansions, torching thousands of homes. Officials have tied 31 deaths to the blazes, but a recent studysuggested the fires may have led to as many as 440 deaths. With an estimated $65 billion in losses, the two wildfires are expected to be the costliest in recorded U.S. history. The summer has kept up the uptick of wildfire activity. On Aug. 1, the Gifford Fire broke out northwest of Los Angeles County and has since torched 155 square miles of land, making it nearly three times the size of the Palisades and Eaton fire combined. Looking ahead, fire officials say heat waves and drought conditions will only fuel more blazes. "Fire potential across California is expected to increase steadily through summer,"Cal Fire said in a fire season outlook. "In Southern California, the threat is driven by persistent drought, high grass loads, and weakening coastal moisture. In Northern California, a developing flash drought and early-season dryness are pushing conditions toward critical levels faster than usual." Contributing: Nate Trela, Fort Collins Coloradoan This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Canyon Fire north of LA intensifies as nearby communities evacuate
