VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (August 7, 2025) — A fast-moving wildfire dubbed the Canyon Fire erupted Thursday afternoon in Ventura County, prompting evacuations as scorching temperatures and gusty winds fueled its rapid spread.
The blaze broke out just east of Lake Piru around midday, with temperatures in the area nearing 100 degrees and humidity levels dangerously low. Within hours, the fire ballooned from 50 acres to over 1,000 acres, burning through dry brush and moving away from the community of Piru toward scattered ranch homes near Holser Canyon.
Evacuation orders were issued for the Lake Piru Recreation Area and surrounding zones. An evacuation warning was in place for ranches in the extreme west end of Holser Canyon. An emergency evacuation shelter has been set up at the College of the Canyons East Gymnasium in Santa Clarita. Large animals are being accepted at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, with smaller pets sent to the Castaic Animal Care Center and Agoura Hills Animal Shelter.
Firefighters, supported by water-dropping helicopters and airtankers, are pulling water from nearby Lake Piru to battle the blaze. Winds up to 25 miles per hour and triple-digit heat continue to challenge crews. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Canyon Fire is one of at least four active wildfires burning in Southern California:
- The Gold Fire in San Bernardino National Forest surpassed 1,000 acres on Thursday.
- The Gifford Fire, now the largest in the state this year, has consumed 96,106 acres across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
- The Rosa Fire, which began Monday near Anza and Pinyon Pines, reached nearly 1,700 acres by Thursday.
Statewide, more than 4,400 wildfires have been reported in 2025—up from 3,800 at this time last year, according to CAL FIRE. Over 221,000 acres have burned, compared to 83,200 acres through July 2024.
Nationwide, over 3.4 million acres have burned in 2025, with 36 large active fires currently burning across the U.S., including multiple in California, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Officials urge residents in fire-prone areas to remain alert, have evacuation plans in place, and avoid outdoor activity during peak heat and wind conditions.