LOS ANGELES – A fast-moving wildfire broke out on Aug. 7 in northwest Los Angeles that grew to over 1,000 acres in a matter of hours, triggering evacuations amid a blistering and dangerous heat wave in Southern California.
The blaze, dubbed the Canyon Fire, was first reported shortly before 1:30 p.m. PT near Piru, California, and the Los Angeles-Ventura county line. Initial reports indicated the fire had burned roughly 30 acres.
In an evening update, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported the fire had scorched 1,500 acres. There was no containment as of 11:30 p.m. local time.
"The fire is burning east with a rapid rate of spread in light to medium fuels," Cal Fire said in an update.
Multiple helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, including six air tankers, dropped water 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 the Ventura County Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.
