A new fast-moving wildfire has erupted in Los Angeles County!
Wildfire near Los Angeles
A rapidly spreading wildfire has ignited in Los Angeles County, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate from a region already grappling with its most devastating fires on record.
The Hughes fire started early Wednesday morning, approximately 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles, near Castaic Lake in a mountainous region adjacent to several residential neighborhoods and schools.
Within just a few hours, the fire expanded to over 9,200 acres, driven by strong winds and dry vegetation. Fortunately, no homes or businesses have been reported damaged, and fire officials remain optimistic about controlling the situation.
This new fire is situated north of two significant blazes that are still active and have previously ravaged multiple neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area earlier this month. Local news footage depicted residents near the Hughes fire spraying their homes and gardens with water while others hurried to evacuate.
Bright orange flames illuminated the mountains as aircraft deployed water and fire retardant.
The area is once again under a red flag warning, indicating a heightened fire risk due to strong winds and dry, low-humidity conditions.
Winds in the vicinity were recorded at 20 to 30 mph (32 to 48 km/h) but could intensify, potentially exacerbating the fire and complicating aerial firefighting efforts.
Approximately 31,000 residents are under a mandatory evacuation order, with an additional 23,000 on alert for possible evacuation, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. He also noted that a local jail is in the process of evacuating nearly 500 inmates.
The fire continued to expand as daylight faded, yet Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone expressed optimism about the progress being made by the firefighting teams.
“The situation is still evolving, and the fire presents significant challenges for containment, but we are gaining control,” he stated.
Chief Marrone highlighted the differences between this incident and the Palisades and Eaton fires, which resulted in at least 28 fatalities and destroyed over 10,000 properties earlier this month.
He attributed the current situation to a combination of milder winds—unlike the 70 to 90 mph gusts experienced during the previous fires—and the availability of numerous helicopters and aircraft to combat the flames from the air.
“I believe we have all felt a heightened sense of alert over the past 16 days,” he remarked. “We were able to mobilize extensive firefighting resources early on, which has significantly altered the dynamics of this fire.”
Ed Fletcher, a representative from Cal Fire, California’s statewide fire agency, informed the BBC that this fire differs from those that occurred earlier in the month. He noted that the winds are currently less intense, and many crews are actively working to control the fire.
“It is extremely dry, and we anticipate stronger winds later,” he cautioned. “We will have more information in a few hours.”
Mr. Fletcher also pointed out that the region is not densely populated, and the prevailing winds are directing the fire toward Castaic Lake, which serves as a protective barrier for the Castaic area, home to approximately 20,000 residents. If it crosses the lake, it creates a significantly more volatile situation.
A woman who evacuated her residence shared with NBC 4 that she found herself stranded on Interstate 5, California’s main transportation route. Sections of the interstate in that region had been closed due to the wildfire.
“It resembled a cloud, but as we approached, it felt like we were driving into hell,” she described the ominous dark smoke and red flames. “To be honest, it was quite terrifying.” She expressed her anxiety after witnessing the nearby Palisades and Eaton fires.
“I can’t understand why they keep igniting,” she remarked. “This area is certainly experiencing a frightening time.”
On Wednesday, two additional fires broke out further south near San Diego and Oceanside, according to officials.
These fires are smaller in scale—85 acres for the Lilac fire near Oceanside and 3.9 acres for the Center fire—but they were burning in populated regions. Fire crews seemed to have control over both fires, and most evacuation orders had been rescinded.
Dana Dierkes, a spokesperson for the Angeles National Forest, emphasized that the combination of winds and dry vegetation has made these recent fires significantly more challenging to combat.
California does not experience a distinct fire season; rather, it endures a fire year, she explained. “We’ve seen wildfires occur in January previously, and the situation is worsened by the Santa Ana winds. The wind plays a significant role, especially during such a dry year.”
The weekend forecast predicts rain in the area, which is a positive development for reducing fire risks. However, this rainfall raises new concerns regarding mudslides, flooding, and landslides.
Regions affected by recent wildfires are especially vulnerable, as burned areas have diminished capacity to absorb water.
On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom enacted an executive order aimed at mobilizing resources for flood and landslide preparedness following the wildfires.
