On Wednesday, January 22, a massive and rapidly spreading wildfire swept through the mountains north of Los Angeles, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate.
According to information from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) website, the Hughes Fire broke out at 5:14 on Wednesday morning and spread over 5,000 acres in just two hours. Currently, the fire has burned over 9,400 acres of land, with billowing black smoke near Castaic Lake.
Castaic Lake is a well-known recreation area in California, located about 40 miles from the destructive Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire, which have been burning for 16 days and are not yet fully under control.
Due to the Hughes Fire spreading down the mountain slopes into densely wooded canyons, a 30-mile stretch of the north-south Interstate 5 (I-5) on the west coast of the United States has been closed.
Ground and aerial firefighters are working to prevent the fire from crossing the interstate and burning towards Castaic Lake.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated that 31,000 people received mandatory evacuation orders, while another 23,000 were issued evacuation warnings.
The National Weather Service posted on social media platform X that afternoon gusts in the area reached 42 miles per hour, but are expected to increase to 60 miles per hour by the evening and Thursday. Strong winds could further fuel the fire.
Ahead of the anticipated high winds, authorities have deployed water-dropping aircraft to help slow the fire’s spread.
Firefighters are filling sandbags for the community, while workers are installing barriers, cleaning drainage pipes, and ponds.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone spoke at a 5 pm press conference about the efforts to extinguish the Hughes Fire. Marrone stated that the fire is challenging to control, but progress is being made by firefighters.
“We’re gaining an upper hand in the battle against the Hughes Fire,” Marrone added, mentioning that about 4,000 personnel have been dispatched to fight the wildfire.
Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass warned that strong winds could stir up ash and advised city residents to visit the city’s website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air in the upcoming high winds.
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer cautioned that ash may contain heavy metals, arsenic, and other harmful substances.
Ferrer stated, “Even brief contact with ash can cause skin allergies and even more serious health issues.”
Since the start of the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire on January 7, at least 28 people have died, and over 14,000 structures have been destroyed. The containment rate for the Palisades Fire stands at 68%, while the Eaton Fire is at 91%.
Sheriff Luna of Los Angeles County reported on Wednesday that his department is still investigating 22 missing persons reports within the areas affected by the two fires. He mentioned that all missing individuals are adults.
Federal authorities are investigating the cause of the fires but have not yet released any findings.
Individuals who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire have filed several lawsuits, alleging that equipment from Southern California Edison sparked the blaze. On Tuesday, a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the company to provide data on the power circuits in the area where the fire began.