A rapidly spreading brush fire, fueled by dry conditions and strong Santa Ana winds, has ripped through over 5,000 acres in northern Los Angeles County, prompting widespread evacuations and forcing the closure of major freeway sections. The Hughes fire erupted near Castaic Lake on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, and its relentless advance has cast a smoky haze over the Santa Clarita Valley.
A ferocious brush fire erupted in northern Los Angeles County on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, rapidly consuming 5,054 acres of dry terrain. Fueled by heavy, dry brush and powerful Santa Ana winds, the blaze, dubbed the Hughes fire, ignited just after 10:30 a.m. near Lake Hughes Road and the 5 Freeway, close to Castaic Lake. Fire crews reported the fire's aggressive spread, spotting across Lake Hughes Road, prompting immediate evacuation orders and warnings for the Castaic Lake area.
Smoke from the Hughes fire drifted across the Santa Clarita Valley, casting a hazy pall over the region.Evacuation orders were expanded southward to Highway 126 and northward to Highway 138, encompassing a wide swathe of territory. Warnings extended to the Ventura County line just south of Pyramid Lake. The heart of Castaic was also included in mandatory evacuation orders. The Castaic Sports Complex, designated as a fire command post, served as a hub for emergency response efforts. Students from Castaic middle and elementary schools were evacuated to a Ralphs parking lot in Hasley Canyon Village, where parents were directed to pick them up. North Lake Elementary School students were sheltered at the Castaic Sports Complex. The Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic took precautionary measures, evacuating 476 inmates to the nearby North County Correction Facility. All northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway north of State Route 126 were closed, forcing drivers to utilize detours on State Route 126 or State Route 14. Southbound lanes were closed at Grapevine Road, with drivers advised to take State Route 166 towards the 101 heading west or State Route 58 towards Tehachapi to the east. This closure of the 5 Freeway remained in effect for an undetermined duration. Visibility significantly reduced due to heavy smoke near Castaic Lake and the Hughes fire. The California Highway Patrol reported the closure of two northbound freeway off-ramps at Parker Road and Lake Hughes Road. Additional closures included Ridge Route Road at Lake Hughes and Templin Highway, Lake Hughes at Pine Canyon, and Dry Gulch at San Francisquito Canyon Road. Firefighters from the LA County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest battled the blaze. The cause of the fire remained unknown, but it ignited during persistent red flag fire conditions. Angeles National Forest had already been closed prior to the fire due to ongoing fire-weather conditions. The closure was scheduled to continue through Friday
HUGHES FIRE WILDFIRES LOS ANGELES COUNTY SANTA ANA WINDS EVACUATIONS FREEWAY CLOSURES CASTAIC LAKE CALIFORNIA
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