Firefighters who have been fighting a deadly fire in Southern California for weeks are now facing a new threat of a wildfire. The Hughes Fire, which erupted in the northern part of Los Angeles County on Wednesday (22nd), has burned 10,176 acres as of Thursday afternoon, putting 14,000 structures at risk and forcing 31,000 people to evacuate. Currently, the containment of the fire stands at 36%.
According to Cal Fire, the Hughes Fire broke out before 11 a.m. on Wednesday near Castaic Lake on Lake Hughes Road, adjacent to the California Interstate 5 highway. Fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and dry vegetation, the fire quickly spread, initially consuming 500 acres of brush before crossing roadways and ravaging thousands of acres of dense vegetation near Castaic Lake. This led to the evacuation of the Castaic community and warnings extending south to Santa Clarita and reaching the county border of Ventura.
Castaic is an unplanned community about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles with a population of 20,000 residents. A wide area surrounding Castaic Lake, including the community itself, was issued mandatory evacuation orders on that day. The evacuation zone encompasses areas east of Lake Piru, west of the Ventura County border, south of Bouquet Canyon Road, and north of Castaic Junction. Ventura County lifted evacuation orders and warnings on Thursday morning, but the Lake Piru Recreation Area remains closed.
Sheriff Robert Luna of Los Angeles County stated on Thursday that 31,000 people are currently under evacuation orders, with an additional 23,000 receiving evacuation warnings.
Firefighters from Cal Fire, Los Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Bureau of Land Management are working together to battle the Hughes Fire. Over a dozen aircraft are dropping water and fire retardant over the fire area, including two Super Scooper fixed-wing aircraft leased by Los Angeles County.
In the past two weeks, deadly wildfires sparked by strong winds in the Los Angeles area have destroyed over 40,000 acres, resulting in at least 28 fatalities and damaging more than 15,000 structures, mostly residences. Currently, the containment rates for the Palisades and Eaton fires are 75% and 95% respectively.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Captain Sheila Kelliher Berkoh told CNN that the Hughes Fire is markedly different from the previous two wildfires: strong winds two weeks ago hindered aerial support, but with the weakening winds, firefighting helicopters were able to drop water during the night to gain control over the Hughes Fire. The firefighting teams were fortunate to access water from Castaic Lake and nearby reservoirs to support firefighting efforts.
The new wildfire has led to the closure of several roads. Sections of Interstate 5 south of Grapevine Road and north of Highway 126 were closed in both directions for several hours, reopening on Wednesday night. Closed sections include off-ramps to Parker Rd and Lake Hughes Road to the east, transitioning to Parker Rd/Ridge Rte Rd east from The Old Rd, and transitioning to Lake Hughes Road east, among others. For further updates, follow the California Highway Patrol (CHP) on their X platform. CHP also advises drivers to remain vigilant due to heavy smoke.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, but the dry vegetation and strong Santa Ana winds pose a significant fire risk. Red Flag fire danger warnings have been extended until Friday at 10 a.m., covering most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. There have been no reports of injuries so far.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has issued warnings for dust and ash due to the fire’s particles affecting air quality countywide, lasting until Thursday at 6 p.m. The department recommends that individuals outdoors wear N95 or P100 masks.
Students from Castaic schools were evacuated to supermarket parking lots on Wednesday for pickup by parents. Students from Northlake Hills Elementary School were evacuated to the Castaic Sports Complex. Sheriff Luna mentioned that around 470 inmates from a county jail in Castaic have been transferred to other areas within the facility, with potential for a full facility evacuation if necessary. As a precaution, Canyons Academy’s Valencia and Canyon Country campuses were closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
For evacuees of the Hughes Fire, an evacuation center at Valencia High School has been activated at 27801 Dickson Drive. Small animals can be taken to the Palmdale Animal Care Center at 38550 Sierra Highway, while large and small animals can be taken to the Lancaster Animal Care Center at 5210 W. Avenue I.
According to the National Weather Service Los Angeles office, rainfall in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas this weekend is expected to surpass the total from the past six months. The significant rainfall onto scorched earth unable to absorb water may pose new dangers, including shallow debris flows, mudslides, and rockfalls, threatening lives and property.
Los Angeles Mayor Bas has issued emergency orders to reinforce burned areas by laying sandbags and clearing debris to prevent the spread of toxic debris that could cause further harm.