California, Jan 23: A fast-moving brush fire erupted in Los Angeles County, expanding to 8,096 acres (32.76 square km) with zero containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

The blaze dubbed Hughes Fire broke out around 10:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday in the area of Lake Hughes Road near Castaic Lake, about 80 km northwest of downtown Los Angeles, the Cal Fire reported, noting it quickly grew to the size in less than 6 hours and had crossed the county line to the neighbouring Venture County.

Fueled by heavy and dry plants and pushed by gusting Santa Ana winds, the latest wildfire in Southern California spread rapidly, the local media said, adding approximately 19,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders.

Students from middle and elementary schools in the Castaic community were evacuated on Wednesday afternoon, and the Castaic Sports Complex was also under a mandatory evacuation order, which was used by firefighters as a command post.

The Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic evacuated 476 inmates to the nearby North County Correction Facility.

Los Angeles County has been inundated with deadly blazes this month. The Palisades and Eaton fires, the largest ones in the most populous county of the United States, have killed 28 people, sparked numerous mandatory evacuations, and destroyed thousands of structures.

The National Weather Service Los Angeles warned Wednesday afternoon that high winds were expected to continue in Southern California throughout the afternoon and overnight, further inhibiting firefighting efforts against the wildfires raging in the region.

“Winds will be elevated enough to cause explosive fire behaviour,” meteorologist Ariel Cohen said. “This is a very volatile situation, and everyone needs to be prepared.”

A total of 11 people were killed in the Palisades Fire while 17 died in the Eaton Fire amid mass devastation in both communities that has left many residents scrambling to find new homes.

They are now 68 per cent and 91 per cent contained, respectively, after more than two weeks of expansive firefighting efforts.

Robert Jensen of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department urged everyone in the affected area of the new fire to evacuate immediately.

“We’ve seen the devastation caused by people failing to follow those orders in the Palisades and Eaton fires. I don’t want to see that here in our community as well. If you’ve been issued an evacuation order, please get out,” he said.

Police were seen driving through the neighbourhood, telling people to leave as the fire spread.

Footage showed helicopters and planes dropping water and retardant on the fire.

The fleet included two Super Scoopers, large amphibious planes that can carry hundreds of gallons (litres) of water.

Fire crews from Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest were also working on the ground to fight the blaze.

The exact cause of the fire is unclear, but it started during red flag conditions when strong winds and low humidity make it easier for fires to spread quickly.

Jalgaon, January 22: There was chaos at Paranda railway station in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra when a rumour spread that the Pushpak Express was on fire. After this rumour, the passengers on the train started jumping from the train to save their lives. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Express coming from the front crushed many people.

The Pushpak Express was going from Lucknow to Mumbai. At the same time, the Karnataka Express going from Manmad to Bhusaval was passing through the other track.

This incident happened around 5 pm. After the rumour of fire in the train, the passengers on the train were panicked and started jumping from the train to save their lives. Meanwhile, the passengers pulled the chain of the train and the train stopped.

According to the information, there was chaos after the rumour of fire in the Pushpak Express spread. The passengers pulled the chain and started jumping from the train. After this, the passengers came under the grip of the Karnataka Express coming on the other track. After getting information about the incident, railway officials have reached the spot.

It is being told that Pushpak Express was coming near Paranda railway station. When the motorman of the train applied brakes, sparks started coming out of the wheels. Meanwhile, a rumour spread among the passengers that the train has caught fire and the frightened people started jumping from the coach. It is not clear yet how many passengers have died.

Jalgaon SP said that after jumping from the train, the Karnataka Express coming from the front crushed the passengers. 8 to 10 people have died in this accident and 30 to 40 people are reported to be injured.

Los Angeles, Jan 16: It has been over a week since the massive wildfires broke out in Los Angeles, fueled by hurricane-strength Santa Ana winds, causing some of the most catastrophic fire scenes California has ever witnessed.

The fires, centered around the Palisades and nearby Eaton areas, remain largely uncontained. With the return of Santa Ana winds, the risk of further spread or new ignitions grows.

To date, these fierce wildfires have claimed at least 25 lives, destroyed over 12,300 structures, and scorched more than 40,600 acres (about 164 square km).

So, when will these fires end, and what do firefighters need to stop them?

It is difficult to determine when the fires will be contained. The main variables are wind and rain or the lack thereof.

“The weather plays a driving factor in all this because they’ve been in critical fire behavior for so long,” said Joe Ten Eyck, the wildfire/urban-interface fire programmes coordinator for the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Currently, the outlook is not encouraging. Dry conditions and strong winds are expected to persist, making the next few days critical. The US National Weather Service (NWS) predicts cooler temperatures towards the end of the week, with a slight chance of rain early next week, but no significant precipitation in the near term.

While the Santa Ana winds briefly eased over the weekend, they are expected to intensify again, possibly fueling rapid fire spread and erratic behaviour.

If the winds shift toward the coast, they could help contain the Palisades Fire by pushing it back onto already burned areas. However, strong winds also risk reigniting the fires before conditions improve later in the week.

“We need Mother Nature to give us a break,” Deputy Chief Brice Bennett of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) told CNN. “We have the firefighters, we have the water, we need the time.”

Even when the flames are put out, recovery will be a lengthy and complex process. In just the first two weeks of 2025, more than 100 wildfires have scorched nearly 40,000 acres in California, far exceeding the five-year average of 46 fires and 13 acres.

Cal Fire noted the massive increases and emphasised the importance of being prepared. “Now more than ever, it’s critical to harden your home against wildfires and create defensible space around your property.”

Homeowners are urged to clear dry vegetation, create defensible space and use fire-resistant materials to protect their properties.

Up to 200,000 people have been displaced by the fires. As of Wednesday, some 82,400 residents were under evacuation orders and another 90,400 faced evacuation warnings, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has described the recovery effort as a “herculean task.” Debris removal from affected homes is expected to take six to nine months, with challenges like toxic waste cleanup and coordinating rebuilding efforts.

The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires are part of a larger trend tied to human-caused climate change. Extreme weather events like wildfires are becoming more common, destructive and deadly.

Los Angeles County, ranked as the most disaster-prone region in the United States, has taken steps to create climate-resilient communities and infrastructure. However, as wildfires grow more severe, firefighters face mounting challenges in preventing new fires and mitigating damage.

Experts acknowledge that climate change is making such disasters harder to control. The NWS has warned about the dangerous combination of dry winds and drought conditions, noting that any new fire could spread rapidly.

As wildfires become a more persistent threat, questions about the region’s ability to recover and prepare for a warming world loom large. The dual challenge of adapting to climate change while addressing immediate recovery efforts underscores the urgency of long-term solutions.