California Jan 24 – More than 50,000 residents in Southern California were under evacuation orders or warnings on Wednesday as the Hughes Fire, a massive wildfire driven by strong winds and dry conditions, scorched over 15 square miles of rugged terrain north of Los Angeles.
The fire erupted near Lake Castaic on Wednesday morning, sending plumes of thick smoke into the sky and threatening nearby communities. The region has been plagued by wildfires in recent weeks, with the Eaton and Palisades fires continuing to burn for a third week.
“This fire had a robust response today… the responders are doing great work to try to contain this fire,” said Joe Tyler, director of Cal Fire, during an evening press conference. “Certainly, we are not out of the woods yet.”
As of Wednesday evening, 31,000 people had been ordered to evacuate, and another 23,000 were under evacuation warnings, according to LA County Sheriff Robert Luna. Firefighters used aircraft to drop tens of thousands of gallons of fire retardant on the southern flank of the fire, where winds gusting at 42 mph threatened to spread flames further.
A 30-mile stretch of Interstate 5 was temporarily shut down as flames raced along hilltops and into canyons, but officials expected the highway to reopen soon.
In Ventura County, about 50 miles southwest of Castaic, the Laguna Fire erupted Thursday, prompting evacuations at California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo. Helicopters were dispatched to contain the blaze near the campus, which serves approximately 7,000 students.
The National Weather Service warned of worsening conditions, with winds expected to reach 60 mph by Thursday and potential rain beginning Saturday. Local officials prepared for the possibility of mudslides and debris flow in areas already damaged by fire. “Rains are in the forecast, and the threat of mud and debris flow in our fire-impacted communities is real,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. Crews were distributing sandbags and installing barriers in vulnerable areas.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged residents to protect themselves from toxic ash, which could contain harmful metals and chemicals. LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned that even brief exposure could lead to skin irritation and serious health issues.
The Hughes Fire comes as firefighters continue to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed 28 people, destroyed over 14,000 structures, and left 22 residents unaccounted for. Containment efforts have reached 68% for the Palisades Fire and 91% for the Eaton Fire.
Lawsuits have been filed against utility company Southern California Edison, alleging that its equipment sparked the Eaton Fire. Federal authorities are investigating but have yet to release findings. Meanwhile, the California legislature approved a $2.5 billion recovery package to aid wildfire-affected areas. The funding, proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom, will support emergency response efforts, assist with rebuilding homes, and help school districts recover from the damage.
