A fast-moving wildfire dubbed the Canyon Fire erupted on 7 August near Lake Piru in Ventura County and pushed into neighbouring Los Angeles County after less than 24 hours. Fanned by triple-digit heat and parched vegetation, the blaze expanded from 30 acres to almost 5,000 acres by Friday morning and remained 0% contained, according to Cal Fire. Mandatory evacuation orders cover more than 4,300 people in at least six zones including Val Verde, Hasley Canyon, Castaic and communities around Lake Piru, while a further 12,000 residents are under evacuation warnings. Officials said several structures have been damaged or destroyed and warned that shifting winds could threaten parts of Santa Clarita and the nearby Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The FMAG will reimburse up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs and give local, state and tribal responders access to additional equipment and personnel. Authorities urged residents to heed evacuation directives and monitor official alerts as crews work to slow the fire’s advance. The Canyon Fire is one of multiple large blazes burning in the state. Farther north, the Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties has swollen to almost 99,000 acres—California’s largest wildfire of 2025 so far—underscoring the widening strain on firefighting resources.