While the Canyon fire in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties in California is ongoing, officials downgraded the evacuation orders to warnings as containment efforts continue.
The fire started in Ventura County on Thursday afternoon and quickly ballooned to 5,370 acres. The growth of the fire, spurred by available fuel and dry conditions, led the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to evacuate areas near the fire, affecting at least 2,700 in Los Angeles County and 56 near the Lake Piru recreation area in Ventura County.
As of 11:05 a.m. local time Saturday, the Canyon fire was still affecting 5,730 acres, with 28% of it contained, state fire protection officials said in a status update. A total of 1,148 personnel from state and local fire authorities responded to the blaze, using seven helicopters and 45 fire engines.
Areas under evacuation order in both affected counties are now under evacuation warnings and previously issued evacuation warnings to other areas were lifted, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said in a release Saturday morning.
Three Los Angeles County firefighters suffered minor injuries while fighting the fire Friday afternoon. The three went to a local hospital and are expected to recover fully, Los Angeles County fire officials said.
Another firefighter from neighboring Kern County sent to the area to help was seriously injured and subsequently airlifted.
Kern County Fire Department Battalion Chief James Agee was driving a pickup truck at around 6:20 p.m. local time Friday in Romero Canyon when the truck rolled over, the Kern County Fire Department said in a release Saturday.
People onsite gave Mr. Agee immediate medical attention and called for assistance; he was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries. Kern County fire officials did not specify the nature of his injuries.
