Firefighters north of Los Angeles worked Friday, Aug. 8, to gain control of a wildfire that sparked a day earlier and exploded in size, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes as flames neared several communities.
The Canyon Fire was first reported around 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 in a mountaineous area near Lake Piru, a resevior located about 50 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The blaze soon threatened ranches and other nearby properties.
Fueled by dry conditions, high heat and strong winds, the fire has since grown to 4,856 acres of land in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, according to Cal Fire, the state’s firefighting agency. The cause of the blaze remains unknown and so far no structures have been reported damaged…