Fast-Growing Hughes Fire Outbreak Forces Expanded Evacuation Orders in Los Angeles Area

What Happened?

Officials issued a warning surrounding a wildfire that has emerged north of Los Angeles and has reportedly torched more than 3,400 acres in just hours.

Authorities expanded mandatory evacuation orders for nearby communities after a huge column of smoke was reportedly spotted Wednesday morning in the wilderness near Santa Clarita, California.

Wildfire expert Jacob Weigler told reporters that the blaze called the Hughes Fire is burning out of control and could 'go nuclear' amid the high windy conditions.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 0% of the fire had been contained with an estimate of over 5,000 acres burned, according to reports.

Officials have now updated the overall death toll from wildfires throughout the Southern California region to at least 28.

According to the Los Angeles Times, 68% of the Palisades fire that burned more than 23,400 acres was contained as of Wednesday morning.

The Eaton fire that burned more than 14,000 acres was 91% contained.

Over 16,000 structures have been reportedly destroyed between the two fires.

The Palisades and Eaton blazes accounted for an area larger than San Francisco in size, according to the Associated Press.

Authorities reportedly have warned severe wind gusts, reaching 65 mph in the mountains, are expected to last which threaten to undo some progress.

LA County Fire Department spokesman Fred Fielding told reporters it's been almost 300 days since the area has had any significant rainfall.

Why it Matters

President Donald Trump issued a memorandum Monday that directed federal agencies to redirect more water from Northern California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to Southern California.

The White House issued a statement that read, 'It's an attempt to change the environmental protections of the smelt, a three-inch-long fish once vital to California's ecosystem but now nearly extinct, and criticize the state's efforts while battling raging and deadly wildfires that have wreaked havoc across greater Los Angeles.'

Trump has previously criticized California's government leaders in posts that acknowledged the fires' continuous spread.

He has even called for the resignation of Governor Gavin Newsom over past refusal to sign a water restoration declaration put before him.

But some like Political Science Professor Tom Holyoke who specializes in western water policy told USA TODAY 'it’s a directive to find a solution when there might not even be one.'

Holyoke added, 'Increasing the water flowing south of the Delta is not likely to help Los Angeles with its water supply problem.'

How it Affects You

The California crisis is a top priority on the long road to recovery for President Trump and his administration.

According to reports, the overall damages from the fires could cause as much as $250 billion in economic damage and become one of the worst natural catastrophes the U.S. has experienced.

The conclusion of this historic event may also change the course of the insurance industry amid tons of unknowns for consumers who reside in relatable areas in the future.