Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Firefighters in Southern California rushed to respond to a rapidly-burning blaze early Wednesday afternoon.
The Hughes Fire grew quickly near Castaic Lake, ballooning to more than 3,400 acres.
“That one’s gonna go nuclear. It’s big,” wildfire expert Jacob Weigler told The New York Post. Weigler said he had been in contact with colleagues near the scene and that an initial equipment request from fire services indicated a potentially massive disaster.
Evacuation orders were issued in the area, with warnings in Charlie Canyon, Bitter Canyon, Ridge, Sloan, and Greenhill.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but forecasters had warned of more critical fire weather affecting the region through Thursday.
This story is breaking. Please check back for updates.