Firefighters have reported an increase in containment of a large wildfire burning in steep, hard-to-reach areas north of Los Angeles. The Post Fire, which was 20% contained as of Monday night, posed a threat to critical infrastructure in the region. However, challenging weather conditions, including hot, dry, and windy weather, could impede containment efforts on Tuesday.
The fire, which experienced rapid growth over the weekend along Interstate 5, has put important structures such as power lines, dams, and oil pipelines at risk. Strong north winds are expected to continue pushing the fire southward, with wind gusts potentially reaching 55 mph.
Residents of Castaic, a community of approximately 19,000 people, were advised to be prepared for evacuation if the fire progresses southward. The blaze has already burned over 24 square miles and led to the evacuation of 1,200 campers, off-roaders, and hikers from the Hungry Valley recreation area.
Firefighters are primarily focusing their efforts on the fire's southern edge near Pyramid Lake, which was closed as a precaution. The fire, which started near I-5 in Gorman, has been fueled by dry grasses following a rainy winter.
Smoke from the fire has drifted eastward, affecting air quality in the Las Vegas area. In addition to the Post Fire, other wildfires have been reported in California, including the Hesperia Fire in San Bernardino County and the Aero Fire in Calaveras County.
Despite a slow start to the fire season due to back-to-back wet winters, experts anticipate increased fire activity in the coming months. Climate scientist Daniel Swain warned of a potentially more active and concerning wildfire season in the latter half of the year.
