LA fires live updates: Evacuation orders issued as Border 2 fire explodes near U.S.-Mexico border

Firefighters continue to wrangle with the Hughes and Laguna fires raging across the Los Angeles area.

The Hughes blaze grew rapidly near Castaic Lake, about 45 miles northwest of LA, on Wednesday evening. As of Friday morning, the flames spread across 10,396 acres and is at 36 percent containment.

The Laguna Fire, which started in Camarillo in Ventura County on Thursday, is now 70 percent contained after engulfing 93.5 acres.

Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt are suing the city of Los Angeles after their Pacific Palisades home was destroyed in the devastating wildfires that have torn through southern California.

The reality TV couple, who rose to fame starring in hit teen series Laguna Beach and The Hills, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday (21 January) along with more than 20 other property owners and residents who have been affected by the Palisades Fire.

They are described as “property owners, tenants and individuals” who suffered “untold devastation” due to the fires such as damaged homes, insurance coverage shortfalls, mandatory evacuations, medical expenses, business interruptions and emotional distress.

Roisin O’Connor has the story.

The Border 2 Fire exploded near the U.S.-Mexico border in the wilderness of San Diego County on Thursday afternoon.

The blaze is burning through the remote Otay Mountain Wilderness, making it harder to access on the ground, Cal Fire officials said. Air tankers and helicopters have been deployed in an attempt to extinguish the blaze before it reaches any populous areas.

As of late Thursday evening, it had churned through more than 500 acres and was 0 percent contained.

Chris Pratt referenced his ex-wife Anna Faris when talking about the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

The 45-year-old actor who is now married to Katherine Schwarzenegger rarely references Scary Movie star Faris, with whom he shares 12-year-old son Jack, in public.

In a video shared on his Instagram on Wednesday (January 22), Pratt updated fans, telling them he was returning home after evacuating due to the fires.

“Miraculously it’s still standing,” Pratt said about his house. “By the grace of God, we have four walls and a roof. I’m going to go check out the town. I haven’t been back since the Palisades fires.”

Amber Raiken has the story.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief David Acuña told CNN on Thursday that the state is “not out of the woods yet by any means.”

“We will continue to have a red flag warning through Friday. So, we’re not out of the woods by any means yet, and there’s a potential for another one next week,” he expalined. “So, we just need everyone to be braced and ready to evacuate if needed […] The problem with red flag warnings is that we have this wind that comes out of the desert. Now, normally, in a season where we’ve had plenty of rain, not a big deal. It’s like, oh, OK, well, there’s some wind, but we’ve had sufficient rain.”

“Right now, the fuel moistures, the grass and brush, how dry they are, is as dry as if it were July or August. So even though the temperature is cold, the humidity is very, very low. The fuel moisture is very low. And now, any fire is going to move very quickly,” said Acuña.