A fast-moving wildfire, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, burns near Castaic Lake, prompting widespread evacuations and freeway closures. The Hughes Fire has spread rapidly, forcing thousands to flee their homes and disrupting transportation throughout the region.
Crews are battling a fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire burning near Castaic Lake north of Santa Clarita that prompted evacuation orders and warnings on Wednesday. The Hughes Fire broke out around 11 a.m. in the area of Lake Hughes Road near the 5 Freeway and Castaic Lake , according to Cal Fire. The fire quickly exploded from 50 acres to over 500 within an hour.
Crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest are battling the blaze, which is burning in heavy fuels, creating the potential for 'a rapid rate of spread,' officials said. \As the fire intensified, authorities issued a series of evacuation orders and warnings affecting thousands of residents in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Evacuations were ordered for parts of Castaic and spread to areas near Lake Piru in Ventura County. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department urged residents to monitor vcemergency.com for updates on evacuations. \Multiple schools in the Castaic area were evacuated as a precaution, with all students safely picked up. Both campuses of College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita were closed, and classes canceled. Moorpark College also closed its campus due to smoke from the fire. Air quality alerts were issued for several areas, including Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Oxnard, Piru, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Ventura. Santa Clarita Transit warned residents to expect delays on all routes because of the Hughes Fire. The California Highway Patrol closed the southbound 5 Freeway at Grapevine Road, effectively shutting down the entire freeway between Grapevine Road and SR-126. Drivers attempting to escape the advancing flames faced gridlocked traffic on the 5 Freeway. Residents in threatened neighborhoods prepared for potential evacuations, with some waiting it out and others taking measures to protect their homes.
Hughes Fire Wildfire Evacuation Santa Clarita Castaic Lake Freeway Closures Wildfires California Santa Ana Winds
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