Raging wildfire engulfs mountains north of Los Angeles, forcing thousands to flee their homes under evacuation Notices.
Wildfires Ravage Western United States: Canyon Fire Contained, Gifford Fire Grows
California is battling multiple wildfires, with the Canyon Fire now under control after burning through nearly 5,000 acres across Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The fire, which started on Thursday afternoon, has been contained about 25-28% as of August 8, 2025.
The Canyon Fire, a "very dynamic situation" caused by hot, dry weather, steep and rugged terrain, and dry fuel, spread rapidly towards communities including Val Verde and areas near Lake Piru. Thousands of residents were affected by evacuation orders and warnings, with around 2,700 residents evacuated in Los Angeles County and 700 structures under an evacuation order.
The exact cause of the Canyon Fire remains unreported in the current information. The fire's rapid spread prompted a local emergency declaration to expedite resources and coordination across agencies. Multiple evacuation orders and warnings impacted thousands of residents and several communities in both counties.
Meanwhile, the Gifford Fire, a massive wildfire in Central California, has become the state's largest wildfire of the year, threatening hundreds of homes and burning in the Los Padres National Forest. As of Thursday evening, the Gifford Fire had spread to just over 99,000 acres and was 15% contained. The fire has injured at least four people and its cause is still under investigation.
Wind will be a persistent issue, with gusts of 20 to 30 mph expected at times through much of the weekend. Conditions are primed for fire growth on Friday, with temperatures reaching the upper 90s and 100s, and the area remaining warmer than normal through the weekend with no chance of rain.
Forecasts from the National Interagency Fire Center show that the West will remain the major wildfire hot spot through at least September. The Dragon Bravo Fire in Arizona is still raging along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and has become one of Arizona's largest fires in history. Utah's Monroe Canyon Fire is the state's largest of the year and had burned through nearly 65,000 acres as of Thursday.
Residents in the affected areas are urged to follow official updates and evacuation orders. Recovery and continued fire suppression efforts remain priorities as evacuations are lifted and the situation improves.
[1] Los Angeles Times [2] CBS Los Angeles [3] Ventura County Star [4] NBC News
Scientists monitoring climate-change patterns warn that hotter, drier weather increasing wildfire risk across the western United States, as evident in the Canyon Fire and series of other recent blazes. These events have prompted concerns in the political sphere, with environmental-science specialists advocating for stricter regulatory measures to mitigate wildfire risks in general-news headlines.
