Topline:
Firefighters continue to make progress in containing the massive Hughes Fire that broke out Wednesday near Castaic Lake, growing to more than 10,396 acres and forcing mass evacuations.
What we know so far: The Hughes Fire broke out Wednesday off Lake Hughes Road near Castaic Lake. It was 56% contained by Friday.
Keep reading... for more on evacuations and weather conditions.
This is a developing story and will be updated. For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
Firefighters continue to make progress in containing the massive Hughes Fire that broke out Wednesday near Castaic Lake, growing to more than 10,000 acres and forcing mass evacuations.
Around 38,000 people remain under evacuation warnings even as containment has reached 56%.
The Federal Aviation Administration has also issued a Temporary Flight Restriction in the airspace above the fire, meaning people cannot fly drones in the area.
The fire started shortly before 11 a.m. on Lake Hughes Road near Castaic Lake and burned through hundreds of acres within minutes. In the first three hours of the fire, 5,000 acres burned.
3 hour time-lapse of the #HughesFire that has grown from 500 to over 5,000 acres.pic.twitter.com/C63X5ICYmD
— Hexdline (@HexdlineNews) January 22, 2025
— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) January 22, 2025
The National Weather Service extended a red flag warning in the area until 10 a.m. Friday — with a high wind advisory in place until 2 p.m. Thursday.
The smoke from the fire prompted alerts about poor air quality in Ventura County for Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Oxnard, Piru, Santa Paula, Simi Valley and Ventura. Parts of L.A., Riverside and San Bernardino counties also are under smoke and windblown dust and ash advisories.
Evacuation warnings have been issued for several areas in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Caltrans reopened both sides of the 5 Freeway Wednesday evening after closing lanes between Grapevine Road and State Route 126.
Area school districts will reopen most schools Friday after closing Wednesday and Thursday.
“After conferring with the fire department battalion chief and reviewing the latest air quality reports… we are happy to report that it is safe for our students and staff to return to school tomorrow morning,” the Castaic Union School District wrote in a statement.
Superintendent Bob Brauneisen previously said in a statement to families and staff that poor air quality and the need to assess facility safety extended the closures, which affected about 2,000 students.
William S. Hart Union High School District said in a statement that it will reopen all campuses except for Academy of the Canyons, which is on the campus of College of the Canyons and currently serving as a command center. The closures earlier in the week affected about 5,000 students.
The Saugus Union School District told LAist in an email that all campuses will be open. The district previously closed its offices and three schools in mandatory evacuation and evacuation warning zones, affecting nearly 2,500 students.
Los Angeles Unified schools in the San Fernando Valley limited outdoor activities such as recess, sports and lunch Thursday. Schools “particularly impacted by air quality” may release students early, the district wrote in a statement.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials moved 476 people from the Pitchess Detention Center, located in the evacuation zone.
Einer Rivera, a spokesperson for the department, said those jailed were taken to North County Correctional Facility.
That facility is also within the evacuation zones. Sheriff Robert Luna said the department is prepared to pivot to Plan B if needed.
"The Plan B that they would be being transported to other facilities around the county and they would be transported by any means possible," he said. "We do have buses that are on the way up there."
Check out LAist's wildfire recovery guide
If you have to evacuate:
Navigating fire conditions:
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Topline:
The late application window for Los Angeles Unified School District opens Monday.
What does that mean? Every fall, LAUSD opens applications for families who are interested in attending a school that is not their neighborhood school. Other options include hundreds of magnet schools, dual-language programs and some charter schools, among other options.
The regular application window closes in November. The spots available during the late application period are those left after families who applied “on time” accept their offers.
How do I choose a school? Families have told us the process of choosing a school for their child is often confusing and anxiety-driven. To help, LAist has our School Game Plan — a series that helps families think through and evaluate their options. Read on for our guides.
The late application window for Los Angeles Unified School District opens Monday.
Every fall, LAUSD opens applications for families who are interested in attending a school that is not their neighborhood school (or “resident school,” in the district’s terminology).
The process for the largest pool of non-resident schools is called “Choices.” This includes hundreds of magnet schools, dual-language programs and some charter schools, among other options.
The regular application window closes in November. The spots available during the late application period are those left after families who applied “on time” accept their offers.
The application can be done online or on paper, and the selection process begins in April — and acceptances can run into the following school year.
Families have told us the process of choosing a school for their child is often confusing and anxiety-driven.
Still: No one type of school is inherently better than another, and the “right” school will look different for every family.
To help, LAist has our School Game Plan — a series that helps families think through and evaluate their options. That includes:
Our guides are also available in Spanish. And if you prefer an easy-to-print version, we also have PDFs in English and Spanish.
What you read is based on the experience of real southern California families, educators and other experts, including their experiences in their own words.
Any other questions? Get in touch with us.
Senior editor Ross Brenneman contributed to this story.
In this edition:
This week, see Sweeney Todd in La Mirada, check out classic Mustangs, enjoy a chamber music premiere, catch a screening of National Theatre’s Dr. Strangelove at the Wallis and more of the best things to do this week.
Highlights:
We all need some fun things to look forward to, and even though it’s only February, it’s not too early to start planning a Rose Bowl float for next year’s parade. If you have an idea for a float, you can pitch it to a team of Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students by Feb. 5; they'll help bring one big creative idea to life for the 2027 event.
Licorice Pizza’s music picks for the week include starting your week with former Little Mix star Jade and her That’s Showbiz, Baby revue at the Hollywood Palladium, or Midwife (aka multi-instrumentalist Madeline Johnston) at Highland Park’s Lodge Room, both on Monday. Tuesday, Andrew Bird is at the Largo, and Wednesday is a big night for hip-hop icons with pioneering Bronx rapper, producer and DJ Pete Rock at the Lodge Room. Meanwhile, Wu-Tang Clan founder GZA and his live band play the first of two nights at the Blue Note. Thursday, you could see Latin legend, bombshell and guitar great Charo, in all her sequined glory, as she brings her flamenco fabulousness to the Smothers Theatre at Pepperdine University.
Elsewhere on LAist, you can get the lowdown on L.A.’s World Cup fan festival, visit Porkchop at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s sea turtle restoration project and mark off how many of the best L.A. films you’ve seen with this definitive list.
Through Sunday, February 8 (closed Tuesdays)
Ace Mission Studios
516 S. Mission Road, Arts District
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO
American Icon: A Ford Mustang Immersive Experience is billed as “a multisensory journey through six decades of Mustang legacy,” taking you through American car history from Motor City to Sunset Boulevard with rare Mustangs from films like Gone in 60 Seconds. It’s closing soon, so don’t miss your last chance to bask in some true American muscle car history. There’s an interactive gallery, 360 projections and a 4D sequence featuring the Mustang GTD. Vrrrrooom! For its final weeks, the exhibit is offering a 2-for-1 promotion on adult tickets, but if you drive a Ford, just show your key and you’ll get a free ticket; kids 12 and under go free as well.
Through Sunday, February 22
La Mirada Theatre
14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada
COST: FROM $19.80; MORE INFO
Attend Sondheim’s tale of the demon barber of Fleet Street with a star-studded Broadway vet cast (including Will Swenson from A Beautiful Noise and Rock of Ages) and a big-name director (Jason Alexander of The Producers and Seinfeld fame). The La Mirada Theatre is an underrated gem for theater lovers, especially those in the Anaheim area, but it's worth the trek for anyone who wants to check out their consistently great performances and ability to attract high-level talent. Swenson plays Todd as more sexy and brooding than Johnny Depp’s oddball outcast in the film version, and Lesli Margherita shines as an over-the-top Mrs. Lovett.
Thursday, February 5, 7:30 p.m.
Lyric Hyperion Theater & Cafe
2106 Hyperion Ave., Silverlake
COST: $15 Pre-sale // $20 Day of; MORE INFO
Already through your second viewing of Heated Rivalry? Head to this queer storytelling show for more funny and heartwarming stories at Greetings, from Queer Mountain. The evening already has sister shows in New Orleans and Austin, but this is the inaugural L.A. event.
Through Sunday, February 8, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Beverly Hills and Hollywood locations
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
I aspire to a living room that looks like the lobby of a hip hotel, and the next step after a fancy candle is a stack of Taschen art books. For the next week, you can score titles on Virgil Abloh, NASA, Atlantic Records and more for as much as 75% off at Taschen's biannual sale at their Hollywood and Beverly Hills stores.
Wednesday February 4, 7:30 p.m.
Brentwood Presbyterian Church
12000 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood
COST: $35; MORE INFO
Chamber Music Palisades (CMP) will perform a world premiere of Due Voci for flute and cello, composed by Lolita Ritmanis, a Grammy, Emmy and SCL Award-winning composer and faculty member at the USC Thornton School of Music. Ritmanis will also speak at the concert about her new work, and KUSC host Alan Chapman will be on hand with his informative in-person program notes.
Wednesday, February 4, 7 p.m.
Bovard Auditorium at USC
3551 Trousdale Pkwy., University Park
COST: FREE, RSVP REQUIRED; MORE INFO
MAJOR, a dance theater performance exploring the history and legacy of majorette dance by Brooklyn-based dance, theatre and interdisciplinary artist and educator Ogemdi Ude, will premiere at USC. Featuring a score that blends Southern rap, blues and R&B, the show also includes a digital archive of interviews with HBCU majorettes over the years, furthering the “love letter” to Black majorette culture. A conversation with Ude and the performers follows.
Tuesday, February 3, 7 p.m.
National Theatre at the Wallis
The Wallis
9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
COST: FROM $27.50; MORE INFO
London’s National Theatre production of the stage adaptation of Dr. Strangelove comes to the Wallis with this special screening. Steve Coogan (The Trip) is a national treasure in the UK and stars as the zany Dr. Strangelove — as well as 11 other characters — in the stage version of Peter Sellers’ classic satire. I saw the stage production in London last year, and what Coogan pulls off is a feat, not to mention the way the design of the infamous plane works on stage, smoke effects and all. The National always does a great job of filming these to feel like you’re at the live show, so I’m sure the effects will come through on screen.
February 4 and 6, 7:30 p.m.
Dynasty Typewriter
2511 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
COST: $30; MORE INFO
Hot off two premiere performances at the SF Sketchfest, comedian Kristen Schaal (Last Man on Earth) brings her new stage show to Dynasty Typewriter. Her out-there comedy is sure to shine through in this one-hour production that co-stars John Roberts (Bob's Burgers), with music by Schaal and Big Black Delta.
Thursday, February 5, 7 p.m.
Saba Surf
12912 Venice Blvd., Venice
COST: FROM $15.71; MORE INFO
Celebrate a new poetry release, meet other artists, listen to live music and maybe even get a custom flash tattoo at the super chill Saba Surf space in Venice. They have a great garden and space to dance, plus there will be drinks (and great NA options, too, if you’re keeping dry January going a little longer).
Topline:
A second case of measles has been confirmed in Los Angeles County. The infected person also traveled to Orange County.
Why it matters: Measles has been on the rise in other parts of the country like South Carolina, Arizona and Utah. 588 measles cases have been reported this year, the most cases reported in January since the year 2000. Two cases have been detected in LA County and two in Orange County.
Read more on information public health officials has released regarding potential exposure.
A second case of measles has been confirmed in Los Angeles County.
L.A. County Department of Public Health officials announced on Saturday the virus was detected in an international traveler who arrived at the Tom Bradley International Terminal — or Terminal B — at LAX on Monday, Jan. 26, through Gate 201A on Viva Aerobus Flight 518.
Public Health said anyone at Terminal B from 10:45 p.m. on Jan. 26 to 1 a.m. on Jan. 27 may have been exposed.
The traveler also spent a day in Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park in Anaheim on Jan. 28 from 12:30 to 10 p.m. On Jan. 30, they visited a Dunkin’ Donuts in Woodland Hills from 3 to 4:45 p.m.
Health officials say people who visited the above locations during those time periods may also be at risk of developing measles.
Symptoms typically appear one to three weeks after exposure.
Public Health recommends these individuals check if they are already protected against measles and advise getting a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine if they aren't.
Symptoms include a fever above 101 degrees; cough; runny nose; red, watery eyes; and a rash that typically starts on the face.
Saturday's announcement comes one day after L.A. County public health officials confirmed the first case of measles in the county. More information about that case here.
Orange County has reported two other measles cases this year, one in a young adult who recently traveled internationally and the second in an unvaccinated toddler who had no known exposure to the virus.
Measles spreads easily through the air and can stay on surfaces for many hours. Those infected can spread the virus before showing symptoms, which can take weeks to appear.
So far, 588 measles cases of measles have been reported in the U.S. this year, the highest number of cases in a January since the U.S. eliminated measles in 2000. Most of these cases are linked to outbreaks in South Carolina, Arizona and Utah.
The L.A. County Department of Public Health is encouraging Angelenos to check their immunization status for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to determine if they’re protected against the virus.
If symptoms develop, contact a health care provider via phone as soon as possible. L.A. Public Health advises people not to go physically into a health care facility before notifying them of measles symptoms.
Topline:
South Carolina now has confirmed 847 cases since the first case was reported in October, making the outbreak bigger than the one in Texas, which started just over a year ago.
Why it matters: This latest outbreak, as well as the speed at which it is spreading, is another test of the United States' ability to contain measles. It comes as the Trump administration has taken multiple steps to undermine overall confidence in vaccines.
What's next: The U.S. is already in danger of losing its status as a country that has eliminated measles. That's a technical designation. It's given to countries that have gone a year without a continuous chain of transmission. For the U.S., the clock started in January 2025 with the Texas outbreak.
In Southern California: The first measles cases of 2026 were just reported in L.A. and Orange counties.
The measles outbreak in South Carolina is showing little sign of slowing down. The state has confirmed 847 cases since the first case was reported in October, making the outbreak bigger than the one in Texas, which started just over a year ago.
Dr. Linda Bell, South Carolina's state epidemiologist, points out that in Texas, measles cases grew over the course of seven months, while in South Carolina it has taken just 16 weeks to surpass the Texas case count.
"This is a milestone that we have reached in a relatively short period of time, very unfortunately," she said at a press briefing Wednesday. "And it's just disconcerting to consider what our final trajectory will look like for measles in South Carolina."
The state on Friday reported 58 new cases since Tuesday.
This latest outbreak, as well as the speed at which it is spreading, is another test of the United States' ability to contain measles. It comes as the Trump administration has taken multiple steps to undermine overall confidence in vaccines.
And it is happening as the U.S. is already in danger of losing its status as a country that has eliminated measles. That's a technical designation. It's given to countries that have gone a year without a continuous chain of transmission. For the U.S., the clock started in January 2025 with the Texas outbreak.
Measles elimination status is granted — and taken away — by a special verification commission set up by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). It reviews extensive evidence to determine whether the outbreaks in the U.S. are all part of a continuous chain of transmission that began with the outbreak in Texas in January 2025. Gathering the necessary epidemiological data, genomic analyses and surveillance reports takes time.
But even if PAHO determines that the outbreaks are separate, the U.S. could still lose its elimination status if it fails to prove that it can interrupt the spread of measles quickly and consistently, says Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, an infectious disease specialist and former top official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And so far, he says, the U.S. is failing on this front.
"We do not have the capability to actually control measles, whether or not this is demonstrated through continuous measles transmission for 12 months," Daskalakis said in a press briefing this month. "So I'm going to say that elimination is already lost."
PAHO has said it plans to review the United States' measles elimination status this spring.
When asked whether the potential loss of measles elimination status was significant during a press call this month, Dr. Ralph Abraham, the principal deputy director of the CDC, said, "Not really."
Abraham said losing elimination status would not impact how the administration tackles measles. He said the administration supports the measles vaccine, but "You know, the president, Secretary [Kennedy], we talk all the time about religious freedom, health freedom, personal freedom. And I think we have to respect those communities that choose to go a somewhat of a different route."
But infectious disease experts and epidemiologists say the choice not to vaccinate is what's driving these outbreaks. Daskalakis says the resurgence of measles is being fueled by misinformation that undermines trust in vaccines.
And public health experts say losing elimination status is more than just symbolic. "I think it's really a comment on the state of the public health system," says Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "We maintained elimination for 25 years. And so now, to be facing its loss, it really points to the cycle of panic and neglect, where I think that we have forgotten what it's like to face widespread measles."
And as measles cases rise, that will lead to more hospitalizations, more deaths and a greater toll on the public health system as a whole, says Dr. William Moss of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He points to estimates suggesting that the average cost for a measles outbreak is $43,000 per case, with costs escalating to well over $1 million total for outbreaks of 50 cases or more. And fighting measles also takes resources away from other public health priorities.
In 2000, PAHO declared measles eliminated from the U.S. because there had been no continuous domestic spread for more than 12 months. But the virus is still endemic in many parts of the world, and every year, there are U.S. cases brought in from abroad. So the virus has not been eradicated.
Compare that with the smallpox virus, which has not been reported anywhere in the world since the World Health Organization declared it eradicated in 1980.
Similar to Texas, the vast majority of cases in South Carolina have been in children and teens who are unvaccinated, leading to quarantines in about two dozen schools. Clemson University and Anderson University also have recently reported cases. And the virus has crossed state lines. North Carolina has confirmed several cases linked to the South Carolina outbreak. Across the country in Washington state, officials in Snohomish County told NPR they've linked six measles cases in unvaccinated children there to a family visiting from South Carolina.
Dr. Anna-Kathryn Burch, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with Prisma Health in Columbia, S.C., says it breaks her heart to see her state have such a large outbreak.
"I'm from here, born and raised — this is my state. And I think that we are going to see those numbers continue to grow over the next several months," she says.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases on Earth — more than Ebola, smallpox or just about any other infectious disease.
A person infected with measles can be contagious from four days before the telltale measles rash appears, until four days after. So the person could be spreading measles before they know they're infected. And when they cough, sneeze, talk or even just breathe, they emit infectious particles that can linger in the air for up to two hours, long after the infected person has left the room. On average, one infected person can go on to sicken up to 18 other unvaccinated people.
The best way to protect yourself is vaccination. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is very safe, and two doses is 97% effective — which means 97% of people will develop lifelong immunity against the disease. When vaccination rates are high in a community — 95% or more is considered ideal — that helps prevent measles outbreaks because there aren't enough vulnerable people for the virus to keep spreading. In Spartanburg County, S.C., the schoolwide vaccination rate for required immunizations is 90%.
Vaccination rates have been dropping in the United States. Nationwide, 92.5% of kindergartners had received the measles vaccine in the 2024-2025 school year, according to the CDC. In many communities across the country, those figures are much lower, creating the conditions needed for measles outbreaks to spread. Experts say all that's needed is one spark to ignite it.
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