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31,000 Evacuated as Hughes Fire Grows to 10,000 Acres North of L.A.; Fire 14% Contained

Jan 23, 2025, 04:30 AM

A rapidly growing wildfire, dubbed the Hughes Fire, erupted north of Los Angeles on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of more than 31,000 residents and threatening structures as it expanded to over 10,000 acres within hours. The blaze started late Wednesday morning near Castaic Lake and grew rapidly due to strong Santa Ana winds and dry conditions, according to firefighters. Within two hours, the fire had burned more than 5,000 acres. As of Wednesday night, the fire was 14% contained. The Hughes Fire claimed its first structure, the Combat Paintball Park off Charlie Canyon Road. More than 4,000 firefighters, aided by nighttime aerial support including six helicopters and approximately 15 air tankers, are battling the blaze. Evacuation orders have been issued for several communities, affecting a total of 31,000 residents, with another 23,000 under evacuation warnings. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory due to hazardous air quality conditions in the region. Interstate 5, a major highway through the area, was closed in both directions for several hours between State Route 126 and Grapevine Road but has since reopened. Schools in the Castaic Union School District and other affected areas will be closed Thursday due to the fire. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone and Sheriff Robert Luna provided updates on the situation, noting that no structures had been damaged or destroyed in the Hughes Fire aside from the paintball park, and that firefighters were making progress despite challenging conditions. California Governor Gavin Newsom has dispatched additional resources to assist in combating the new fire.