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Hughes Fire in Castaic now 56% contained with rain in the forecast
The Hughes Fire burning near the 5 Freeway north of L.A. on Wednesday. The fire shut down the major artery temporarily.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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This is a developing story and will be updated. For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
- CalFire incident page
- Angeles National Forest (Facebook)
- L.A. County Fire (Facebook)
- CHP_Newhall (X)
- Latest evacuation map
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 basics
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.
- Acreage: 10,396 acres as of Thursday evening
- Containment: 56%
- Structures destroyed: None reported
- Deaths: None
- Injuries: None
- Personnel working on fire: More than 4,000
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
Air quality warnings and high wind
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.
A fire truck drives past flames caused by the Hughes Fire in Castaic on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.
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Ethan Swope
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Associated Press
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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.
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Courtesy NWS
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Courtesy NWS
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Evacuation map
Evacuation warnings have been issued for several areas in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Evacuation centers
- Valencia High School, 27801 Dickson Dr., Valencia
- For small animals:
- Palmdale Animal Care Center, 38550 Sierra Hwy., Palmdale
- Aguora Animal Care Center, 29525 Agoura Rd., Agoura Hills
- Lancaster Animal Care Center, 5210 W. Ave. I, Lancaster
- For large animals:
- Lancaster Animal Care Center, 5210 W. Ave. I, Lancaster
- Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills
Road closures
- The off ramps from 5 Freeway northbound at Parker Road and Lake Hughes Road
- Eastbound Parker Road / Ridge Road from The Old Road
- Eastbound Lake Hughes Road from The Old Road
Caltrans reopened both sides of the 5 Freeway Wednesday evening after closing lanes between Grapevine Road and State Route 126.
School closures
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.
Jail evacuations
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."
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Fire resources and tips
Check out LAist's wildfire recovery guide
If you have to evacuate:
- Why fire officials don't want you to stay and defend your home
- How to get packed up
- How to leave your house
- What evacuation terms mean and how to sign up for alerts
Navigating fire conditions:
- How to drive in high winds and fire danger
- How to prep for power outages
- How to navigate poor air quality
How to help yourself and others:
- Resources for fire victims, evacuees and first responders
- If you want to help fire victims, resist the urge to volunteer
- How to help find lost pets
How to start the recovery process:
- What to do — and not do — when you get home after a wildfire
- How to make an insurance claim
- How to safely clean up wildfire ash
What to do for your kids:
- How to talk to children about wildfires and losing a home
- What parents should know about wildfire air quality
Prepare for the next disaster:
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