Evacuations are underway after a massive wildfire, known as the Bouquet Fire, broke out in Los Angeles County amid a blistering October heat wave. The blaze erupted on Saturday afternoon, October 3, 2026, in the Angeles National Forest northeast of Santa Clarita. Driven by triple-digit temperatures, thick brush, and gusty northeast winds, the fire exploded overnight to cover over 1,000 acres.
Current Status and Containment
* Acreage: The fire has scorched at least 1,040 acres.
* Containment: Fire containment estimates range between 0% and 40% as ground crews battle the fast-moving flames.
* Personnel: Nearly 300 emergency personnel are working on the lines, and no injuries have been reported.
* Air Support: Low visibility initially grounded fixed-wing air tankers overnight, but night-flying helicopters remained assigned, and heavy air operations are resuming.
Evacuation Orders and Warnings
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and fire officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents near the canyon area.
* Mandatory Evacuation Zones (Leave Now): Zones LAC-E018, LAC-E030-B, and LAC-E031-A. This applies heavily to residents south of Green Valley and north of Los Cantas in the Bouquet Canyon area.
* Evacuation Warnings (Be Ready to Move): Zones LAC-E016, LAC-E017, LAC-E019, LAC-E020, LAC-E021, LAC-E029, LAC-E030-A, LAC-E031-B, and LAC-E030-C.
* Evacuation Shelter: A public evacuation shelter has been established at the Castaic Sports Complex located on Castaic Road.
Weather Outlook
The rapid spread is heavily fueled by an extreme, unseasonable Southern California heat wave. Forecasters warn that temperatures will remain in the triple digits with minimal overnight relief, creating highly hazardous conditions for firefighting efforts.