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Hughes Fire in Castaic puts 50,000 residents in evacuation orders or warnings

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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.

Hughes Fire evacuations

THE LATEST MAP OF THE HUGHES FIRE AND ASSOCIATED EVACUATION ORDERS AND WARNINGS CAN BE FOUND BY TAPPING OR CLICKING HERE.

Evacuation zones shrink

11:15 p.m.: The following zones previously under mandatory evacuation orders from the Hughes Fire have downgraded to evacuation warnings: CAS-GOLDENSTATE, CAS-ROMERO, CAS-SLOAN, CAS-GREENHILL, CAS-HASLEY, CAS-CAMBRIDGE & CAS-HILLCREST

Late evening update

10 p.m.: According to the Angeles National Forest, the Hughes fire has burned approximately 10,176 acres, and containment has shot up to 14%.

8:27 p.m.: CalFire's latest report has the Hughes Fire at 9,400 acres and 0% containment.

Drone restrictions

7 p.m.: The Federal Aviation administration has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction for the area affected by the Hughes Fire. Officials are  

Saugus schools closed Thursday

7 p.m.: Several elementary schools in the Saugus Union School District will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 23 out of "an abundance of caution." due to the Hughes Fire. West Creek Academy, Tesoro del Valle Elementary, Mountainview Elementary and the District office will be closed. The rest of the schools in the district will be open Thursday, but will not hold any outdoor activities.

EARLIER SCHOOL CLOSURES
The William S. Hart Union High School District announced that some of their schools will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 23. Castaic High School, Valencia High School, Rio Norte Junior High School and Academy of the Canyons will be closed. All other Hart District Schools will be open on Thursday. 

Earlier Wednesday, the Castaic Union School District announced that all of their schools would be closed on Thursday.

Santa Clarita Valley International Charter School in Castaic will also be closed on Thursday, according to Director Martha Spansel-Pellico.

5 Freeway reopened

6:30 p.m.: The 5 Freeway has been reopened in both directions, according to the California Highway Patrol.

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More school closures Thursday

6 p.m.: The William S. Hart Union High School District announced that some of their schools will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 23. Castaic High School, Valencia High School, Rio Norte Junior High School and Academy of the Canyons will be closed. All other Hart District Schools will be open on Thursday. 

Earlier Wednesday, the Castaic Union School District announced that all of their schools would be closed on Thursday.

SCVi Charter School in Castaic will also be closed on Thursday.

Animal shelters in Ventura County

6 p.m.: Ventura County has opened two centers for animals forced to evacuate due to the Hughes Fire. Large animals can be brought to the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 W. Harbor Boulevard. Small animals can be brought to Ventura County Animal Services at 600 Aviation Drive in Camarillo.

Red Cross evacuation center

5:45 p.m.: Red Cross volunteers have opened an evacuation center at the College of the Canyons at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd in Santa Clarita. Volunteers are providing food and water.

5 Freeway to reopen

5:40 p.m.: The 5 Freeway, which has been closed for several hours near the fire area, is set to reopen shortly, according to LA County Sheriff Robert Luna.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the northbound lanes will be reopening shortly. Several roads and off ramps in the area will remain closed though, including:

  • The northbound Parker Road off ramp
  • The northbound Lake Hughes Road off ramp
  • Parker Road and Ridge Road eastbound from The Old Road
  • Lake Hughes Road eastbound from The Old Road

Fire continues to spread, Red Flag Alert extended

5 p.m.: The Hughes Fire has spread to 9,435 acres, LACoFD Chief Anthony Marrone announced. The fire remains 0% contained, but no structures have been reportedly destroyed. Marrone said that the "situation remains dynamic, and the fire remains a difficult fire to contain, although we are getting the upper hand."

The National Weather Service has also extended a Red Flag Alert for most of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties 10 a.m. Friday.

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said that more than 30,000 people have been forced to evacuate, and more than 20,000 remain under evacuation warnings.

Santa Clarita Mayor Bill Miranda said city recreation and community services have been canceled for the rest of the day Wednesday. Miranda also asked residents in evacuation zones to get out while they can.

"Don't wait 10 minutes and see what's going to happen. Nothing is going to change in 10 minutes," Miranda said. "We want you to evacuate now. Do not hesitate. Do not stay. Grab the necessary items and leave as quickly as you can."

For those not in evacuation zones, Miranda said "if you are safe, not in an evacuation zone, please stay home and off our city streets. We need our streets open for evacuees to safely leave and for first responsders to get in."

Castaic schools closed Thursday

4:50 p.m.: All schools in the Castaic Union School District will remain closed on Thursday, Jan. 23, the district announced, because of the fire, poor air quality and access to facilities.

More evacuation warnings in Ventura County

4 p.m.: More evacuation warnings have been issued in Ventura County in the Lake Piru and Hopper Mountain, Hopper, Piru, Camulos and Guiberson areas. Tap here for the latest evacuation map from Cal Fire.

Evacuation orders and warnings issued because of the Hughes Fire as of 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2025 (Credit: Cal Fire)

Hughes Fire continues to spread, more evacuations

Members of the media watch flames from the Hughes Fire race up the hill in Castaic. (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

3:45 p.m.: The Hughes Fire has nearly doubled in size in just a few hours. The flames have burned 8,096 acres, according to Cal Fire, and the fire remains 0% contained. 

More evacuation orders and warnings have been issued because of the fire northeast of Castaic Lake. 

The latest evacuation map can be found by tapping or clicking here.

Inmates evacuated

3:30 p.m.: Approximately 400 inmates are being relocated from the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic due to the Hughes Fire, according to LASD.

Moorpark College closed

3:15 p.m.: Moorpark College's campus has been closed because of smoke from the Hughes Fire, according to the Ventura County Transportation Comission The campus bus stop will stay open, but only for pickups, no drop offs.

New Evacuation points

3:10 p.m.: The new temporary evacuation point for the Hughes Fire is Hart High School at 23825 Newhall Avenue in Santa Clarita. The former evacuation point, Valencia High School, is no longer an evacuation point.

An evacuation center for large pets has been set up at Pierce College at 6201 Winnetka Avenue in Woodland Hills. Centers for small pets are open at Palmdale and Lancaster Animal Care Centers.

A firefighter truck backs up from flames of smoke from the new Hughes Fire at the Lake Hughes Road in Castaic, a northwestern neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 22, 2025. A new wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles on January 22, exp

Ventura County warnings

3 p.m.: The Ventura County Sheriff's is urging residents to follow vcemergency.com for updates on evacuations and more.

An Air Quality Alert has been issued for the areas of Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Oxnard, Piru, Santa Paula, Simi Valley and Ventura.

Santa Clarita Transit delays

2:45 p.m.: Santa Clarita Transit is warning residents to expect delays on all routes because of the Hughes Fire.

All students safe

2:30 p.m.: Multiple schools in the Castaic area have been evacuated. According to Castaic Union School District Superintendent Bob Brauneisen, all evacuated students have been safely picked up.

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VALENCIA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 22: The Hughes Fire burns behind the skyline of Six Flags Magic Mountain on January 22, 2025 in Valencia, California. The wildfire is prompting mandatory evacuations just over two weeks after the Eaton and Palisades Fires caused widespread destruction across Los Angeles County. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

 

Grapevine closed 

2:15 p.m.: CHP says is closing the southbound 5 Freeway at Grapevine Road. That means the entire freeway will be closed in both directions between Grapevine Road and SR-126 due to the Hughes Fire.

35K under evacuation orders or warnings

2:16 p.m.: Roughly 19,000 people are under an evacuation order and another 16,000 are under an evacuation warning, according to LA County Fire. 

College of the Canyons closed 

2: 11 p.m.: Both campuses of College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita have been closed and all classes canceled due to the Hughes Fire.

Assistance for families 

2:03 p.m.: Westminster School District said it is assisting families displaced by the Hughes Fire. For more information, visit their website.

Evacuations spread to Ventura County 

2:05 p.m.: Evacuations have now spread to parts of Ventura County. An order was issued for VNC Zone 1 which is near Lake Piru.

More closures on 5 Freeway 

2:00 p.m.: All lanes of the northbound 5 freeway are closed just north of State Route 126. Detour is SR-126. Alternate route is State Route 14. 

Homeowners on alert 

2:00 p.m.: Sheriff's deputies and firefighters are deployed to neighborhoods in Castaic threatened by the Hughes Fire. While some residents are preparing to evacuate, others are "waiting it out" and hoping it won't get to that point.

Federal resources deployed 

1:50 p.m.: Gov. Newsom said state resources have been deployed to assist in the federal response to the Hughes fire. 

"We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide the federal government with whatever it needs to extinguish this fire," the governor said in a statement. 

Homeowner takes action 

1:35 p.m.: Private firefighters sent by one homeowner's insurance company were seen helping him hose down his home as he prepared for the possibility to evacuate. "Right now I feel pretty safe with my friend who is a firefighter, but if we have to get out, we're gonna get out," he said.

Fire continues to spread

1:15 p.m.: The fire has now spread to 5,054 acres with zero containment. 

Gridlock traffic on the 5 Freeway

12:56 p.m.: Drivers looking to escape the flames were met with gridlocked traffic on the 5 Freeway.

LA County Supervisor: ‘Don’t wait to evacuate'

12:55 p.m.: "Don't wait to evacuate," Sup. Kathryn Barger is urging residents within the path of the wind-driven Hughes Fire. Barger added that the gusty Santa Ana winds are burning in dry brush, further fueling the fire.

Castaic Middle and Elementary schools evacuated

12:53 p.m.: The California Highway Patrol said students who attend Castaic Middle School and Castaic High Schools were evacuated to the Ralphs parking lot on Hasley Canyon. 

Critical fire weather remains for parts of SoCal

12:52 p.m.: The Santa Clarita Valley was one of the parts of Southern California that was under a Red Flag Warning. The winds fueled the flames and made for challenging conditions for firefighters. Sustained wind speeds were around 15 to 25 mph, however with burst of wind gusts, the winds only spread the embers. 

Evacuation Center established at Valencia High School 

12:30 p.m.: An evacuation center has been established at Valencia High School located at 27801 Dickson Drive, Valencia, CA, 91355. THIS IS NO LONGER AN EVACUATION POINT AS OF 3 p.m. PT.

Homeowner attempts preventative measures to save home

12:36 p.m.: FOX 11's Justin O'Brian was on the ground as a homeowner used a hose to wet his home as the fire approached his neighborhood. 

Hughes Fire explodes to over 3,400 acres

  • 12:23 p.m.: Cal Fire reported the Hughes Fire exploded to 3,407 acres.

Northlake Hills Elementary and Castaic High schools evacuated

  • 12:15 p.m. Students at Northlake Hills were evacuated and could be picked up Castaic Aquatic Center located at 32132 Castaic Lake Drive. Students at Castaic High Schools were being taken to other schools within the William S. Hart Unified School District.

Evacuation orders and warnings expanded

12:10 p.m.: As the fire continued to spread, more evacuation orders and warnings were issued. 

Evacuation Orders

FIRE ZONE: CAS-BITTERCANYON

  • Areas north of Tapia Canyon Road, San Francisquito Motorway, Kc66; South of Dry Gulch Road, Lake Hughes Road; East of Lake Hughes Road, Lake Hills Community Church; West of San Francisquito Canyon Road

FIRE ZONE: CAS-CHARLIECANYON

  • Areas north of San Francisquito Motorway and North Hog Farm Road, south of Lake Hughes Road and Tapia Canyon Road, east of Castaic Road and west of Cross Creek Dr, Tapia Canyon Road

FIRE ZONE: CAS-SLOAN

  • Areas north of Park Vista Drive, south of Gelding Road, east of Meadow Grass Drive and west of the 5 Freeway.

FIRE ZONE: CAS-HILLCREST

  • This area includes Castaic Elementary and Middle schools. Also, areas north of Star Canyon place, south of Beryl Place, east of Sloan Canyon Road and west of the 5 Freeway.

FIRE ZONE: CAS-HASLEY

  • Areas north of Del Valley Road and Hasley Canyon Road, South of Remington Road, east of S. Malt Avenue and west of Sloan Canyon Road, Del Valle Road and Hasley Canyon Road.

FIRE ZONE: CAS-CAMBRIDGE

  • This includes areas north of Hasley Canyon Road, south of Star Canyon Place, east of Magic View Place and west of Hasley Canyon Road and the 5 Freeway.

FIRE ZONE: CAS-Romero

  • This areas includes Castaic High School as well as areas north of Hawkset Street, south of Romero Canyon Road, east of Gimour Street and Lechler Fire Truck Trail and west of Harp Canyon Road and Meadow Grass Drive.

FIRE ZONE: CAS-GREENHILL

  • This includes areas north of Oakhurt Avenue, south of North Red Oak Court, east of Victoria Road and Mandolin Canyon Road and west of the 5 Freeway.

FIRE ZONE: CAS-GOLDEN STATE

  • Areas north of Oak Canyon Road and Valley Creek Road, south of the 5 Freeway and Golden State Highway, east of Agua Blanca Trail and west of Valley Creek Road and the 5 Freeway.

FIRE ZONE: LAC-008

  • Areas north of Warm Springs Divide, south of Liebre Mountain Road, east of Old Ridge Route and the 5 Freeway, and west of Lake Hughes Road.

FIRE ZONE: CAS-PARADISE RANCH

  • This applies to the area of the Paradise Ranch Mobile Home Park as well as areas north of the 5 Freeway and Templin Highway, south of Posey Canyon Road the 5 Freeway, east of the 5 Freeway and west of the Old Ridge Route

Evacuation Warnings

The following areas are under an evacuation warning as of 12:25 p.m.:

  • FIRE ZONE: CAS-VALVERDE
  • FIRE ZONE: CAS-LIVEOAK
  • FIRE ZONE: CAS: OAKCANYON
  • FIRE ZONE: CAS- INDUSTRY
  • FIRE ZONE: CAS-BISCAILUZ
  • FIRE ZONE: SCL-KELLY JOHNSON
  • FIRE ZONE: SCL-STERLING
  • FIRE ZONE: SCL-TESORODELVALLE
  • FIRE ZONE: LAC-FRANCISQUITO
  • FIRE ZONE: SCL- REYESADOBE
  • FIRE ZONE: LAC-E029
  • FIRE ZONE: LAC: E016
  • FIRE ZONE: LAC-009-B
  • FIRE ZONE: LAC-E005
  • FIRE ZONE: GOR-E004
  • FIRE ZONE: GOR:HUNGRYVALLEY

Click here for information on fire zones.

5 Freeway impacted by the Hughes Fire

  • 12 p.m.: The Angeles National Forest said the 5 Freeway is impacted by heavy smoke in the area of the Hughes Fire. The NB 5 Freeway off-ramp at Parker Road and the NB 5 Freeway at Lake Hughes Road are now closed.

Elementary School evacuated

  • 11:55 a.m.: Northlake Hills Elementary School was in the process of being evacuated. Students can be picked up at the Castaic Aquatic Center located at 32132 Castaic Lake Drive.

Evacuation Orders 

By 11:30 a.m., officials ordered more evacuation orders.

Evacuation orders and warnings issued because of the Hughes Fire as of 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2025 (Credit: Cal Fire)

Those who live in the fire zones are now under mandatory evacuation orders and are asked to leave immediately: 

Critical fire weather

The Hughes Fire is the latest wildfire burning in Los Angeles County as a red flag warning remains in effect due to Santa Ana winds.

Red flag warnings of high fire danger will be in place until 8 p.m. Thursday for a large part of Los Angeles County, including the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, the San Gabriel Mountains, the 5 and 14 Freeway corridors, the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys, the Malibu Coast, Calabasas and Agoura Hills.

SUGGESTED: California Fires Updates: Wednesday, Jan. 22

"Winds will strengthen and expand once again Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning, then lower and shrink in coverage again Thursday night into Friday," according to the National Weather Service. "Meanwhile, extremely low humidities will persist with minimums under 10 percent over much of the area and poor overnight recoveries."

Forecasters said the red flag warning might be extended into Friday for some of the region's most wind-prone areas.

The Source: Information for this story is from the Angeles National Forest and LA County Fire Department.

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