
More than 50,000 residents in Los Angeles County found themselves under evacuation orders or warnings on Wednesday as the Hughes Fire erupted in the mountains near Lake Castaic. The wildfire, which began late Wednesday morning, rapidly consumed over 15 square miles of vegetation within hours, spurred by dry conditions and gusty winds.
While no homes or structures have been reported damaged, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Cal Fire mounted an aggressive response. Firefighting aircraft dropped tens of thousands of gallons of fire retardant on the advancing flames, leveraging calmer winds compared to the ferocious conditions that fuelled the ongoing Palisades and Eaton fires.
“This fire received a robust response today, and the teams are making progress in containing it,” said Joe Tyler, director of Cal Fire. Despite this, officials warned that the danger is far from over, with wind speeds expected to surge to 60 mph by Thursday.
A critical stretch of Interstate 5 was temporarily closed to aid emergency operations but was later reopened. Fire crews worked to prevent the Hughes Fire from jumping the interstate and threatening nearby communities, including Castaic.
Among the evacuees was Kayla Amara, a Valencia resident, who rushed to help a friend retrieve belongings before hosing down the property as flames loomed nearby. “It’s stressful,” Amara admitted, referencing weeks of anxiety from Southern California’s ongoing fires.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles officials are bracing for potential rainfall forecasted for the weekend, which could trigger mudslides and debris flow in areas ravaged by the Palisades and Eaton fires. “The threat of mud and debris flow is real,” warned LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
The Palisades and Eaton fires, which have been burning since January 7, have claimed 28 lives and destroyed over 14,000 structures. While containment progress has been made—68% for the Palisades Fire and 91% for the Eaton Fire—authorities remain vigilant, with red flag warnings extended until Friday.
Adding to the crisis, LA Mayor Karen Bass cautioned residents about toxic ash carried by winds, urging precautions to protect against exposure. Public health officials have also issued warnings, noting that the ash may contain heavy metals and other hazardous substances.
As fire crews race to contain the Hughes Fire, lawsuits against Southern California Edison are piling up, alleging that the utility’s equipment sparked the deadly Eaton Fire. Investigations into the causes of all three fires remain ongoing, with no conclusions released thus far.
The Hughes Fire now joins a grim chapter in Southern California’s battle with wildfires, leaving communities on edge as they face continued threats from nature’s fury.