Firefighters are actively working to control a large and fast-moving wildfire that has erupted in the mountainous terrain north of Los Angeles, leading to evacuation orders and warnings affecting over 50,000 residents. The Hughes Fire, which ignited late Wednesday morning, has already scorched nearly 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) of land near Castaic Lake, a well-known recreational site situated approximately 40 miles (64 kilometers) away from the ongoing Eaton and Palisades fires that have persisted for three weeks now.
Despite the region’s status under a red flag warning due to critical fire conditions, winds were milder than those experienced during previous fire outbreaks. This allowed firefighting aircraft to drop substantial amounts of fire retardant on the advancing flames, resulting in roughly 14% containment by Wednesday night. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone remarked that the current situation is significantly different compared to the conditions faced two weeks ago.
Red flag warnings were extended until 10 a.m. on Friday for both LA and Ventura counties. Authorities expressed ongoing concerns that the Palisades and Eaton fires could breach containment barriers, with firefighters monitoring for hotspots. An evacuation warning was mixed into the chaos when a brush fire broke out on the Sepulveda Pass near the I-405 Freeway. Although the blaze, reported just after 11 p.m. Wednesday, scorched about 40 acres (16 hectares), the Los Angeles Fire Department quickly halted its progress, thereby lifting the evacuation warning. Fortunately, no structures were harmed and no injuries were reported.
Sheriff Robert Luna noted that over 31,000 individuals were ordered to evacuate due to the Hughes Fire, with another 23,000 still under warnings. Fortunately, there were no reports of homes or other facilities being burned. Some sections of Interstate 5 near the fire, previously closed for emergency operations, resumed normal traffic late Wednesday evening.
A 30-mile (48-kilometer) stretch had been temporarily shut down to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles and to prevent accidents caused by the smoke that was obscuring visibility. Fire crews and aircraft were actively working to keep the flames from crossing the interstate and advancing toward Castaic. Assistant Fire Chief Marrone highlighted that the reduced wind strength compared to two weeks prior allowed aircraft to effectively deploy fire retardant on the southern front of the fire.
Wind gusts in the area peaked at 42 mph (67 kph), with speeds reaching as high as 65 mph (105 kph) in some mountain regions by that evening, according to a meteorologist from the National Weather Service.
As the situation unfolded, Kayla Amara drove to a friend’s home in Castaic’s Stonegate neighborhood to retrieve belongings after her friend hurried to pick up her child from preschool. While packing the car, news of the fire’s rapid spread prompted her to help douse the property with water. “Other people are hosing down their houses, too. I hope there’s a house here to return to,” she expressed with concern as police vehicles rushed past and flames consumed nearby trees on a distant hillside.
Amara, a nurse residing in Valencia, has felt the strain of the ongoing fires in Southern California. “It’s been stressful with those other fires, but now that this one is close to home it’s just super stressful,” she admitted.
To the south, Los Angeles authorities began taking precautions against potential rainfall even while some residents were allowed to return to areas ravaged by the fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Windy conditions were anticipated to persist through Thursday, with a chance of rain starting Saturday, according to forecasts. Supervisor Kathryn Barger cautioned that rain could lead to mudslides and debris flows in fire-impacted communities.
Fire crews worked to fill sandbags and install protective barriers while clearing drainage systems and basins. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned residents about the potentially harmful effects of ash carried by the winds. She urged residents to check resources on the city’s website for ways to protect themselves during this Santa Ana wind event.
Public health director Barbara Ferrer noted that the ash from the fires may contain heavy metals, arsenic, and other dangerous substances. “Even a brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer advised, urging people to wear protective gear when cleaning up.
Meanwhile, California Republicans have opposed the notion presented by President Donald Trump and other GOP leaders that federal disaster aid for wildfire victims should come with conditions. Trump is scheduled to visit the state on Friday to observe the damage firsthand, although it remains unclear if he will meet with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
Underlying factors contributing to the critical fire situation include low humidity, parched vegetation, and high winds, which are affecting ongoing firefighting efforts against the Palisades and Eaton fires. These blazes have claimed at least 28 lives and destroyed over 14,000 structures since igniting on January 7. The containment status for the Palisades Fire stands at 70%, while the Eaton Fire is 95% contained.
Sheriff Luna mentioned that his office is actively investigating 22 ongoing missing person reports associated with these fires, all of whom are adults. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is currently probing the origins of the fires but has not disclosed any conclusions. There have also been multiple lawsuits filed by individuals who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, alleging involvement of Southern California Edison’s equipment in sparking the inferno.
The article has been updated to correctly refer to Castaic Lake rather than Lake Castaic.
