California fires update for Thursday, Jan. 23
As critical fire weather continues to strike in Southern California, not only do first responders have their hands full with multiple fires burning in the area, they are also preparing for a storm expected this weekend that could trigger mudslides in burn scar areas.
In response, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued executive orders to expedite efforts to clear out wildfire debris ahead of the upcoming weekend.
While crews continue to make progress with the massive Eaton and Palisades fire that left communities devastated, they are now battling the Hughes Fire in the Santa Clarita Valley, which has put an estimated 50,000 residents under evacuation orders.
Red flag warnings remain in effect for most of the Southland through Friday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m.
Follow FOX 11's live blog with the latest updates provided in the timeline below:
Angeles National Forest to remain closed
8 p.m.: The Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument are closed because of the fires. On Thursday, Forest Service officials announced that both would remain closed through Jan. 31.
Hughes Fire containment grows
6:20 p.m.: The Hughes Fire which sparked Wednesday morning in Castaic is now 36% contained after burning 10,396 acres.
Fire in San Diego
4 p.m.: Crews are battling a 2-acre "Gilman Fire" in San Diego County.

Seal Beach fire controlled
3:07 p.m. According to the OC Fire Authority, forward progress on the fire that broke out near the 405-605 interchange in Seal Beach was stopped in about 45 minutes. There were no structures threatened and no reported injuries. The cause is under investigation.
Baldy Fire
2:33 p.m.: A 2-acre brush fire on the northbound 15 Freewat between 138 and Oak Hills has been stopped, according to the San Bernardino National Forest. Crews are on scene mopping up hotspots in the area. Two lanes of the 15 Freeway are closed, the CHP reported.
Sepulveda Fire
2:25 p.m.: By Thursday afternoon, the Sepulveda Fire along the 405 Freeway in the Brentwood area was 60% contained. Firefighters were able to stop the forward progress of the fire and held it to 45 acres.
Seal Beach fire
2:21 p.m.: Firefighters are responding to a fire that broke out near the 405 Freeway and 605 interchange in Seal Beach. Northbound lanes of the 405 Freeway are shut down.
Some evacuations lifted
1:08 p.m.: Evacuation warnings in all zones in Ventura County are lifted.
Hughes Fire spreads, containment grows
12:45 p.m.: The Hughes Fire has burned approximately 10,278 acres and is now 24% contained, according to the Angeles National Forest.
Laguna Fire forward progress stopped
12 p.m.: Forward progress of the Laguna Fire has been stopped at approximately 50 acres, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. The evacuation order at CSUCI has been downgraded to a warning. Fire crews are still on the scene to better contain the fire. The VCFD said that the fire didn't damage any structures.
More evacuation orders, warnings downgraded in Hughes Fire
11:45 a.m.: Eight zones were downgraded from evacuation orders to warnings:
- CAS-PARADISERANCH
- CAS-BISCAILUZ
- CAS-RIDGE
- LAC-E029
- LAC-FRANCISQUITO
- SCL-KELLYJOHNSON
- SCL-REYESADOBE
- SCL-STERLING
- SCL-TESORODELVALLE
Evacuation warnings have been lifted and have returned to a normal status for the following fire zones:
- CAS-CAMBRIDGE
- CAS-GOLDENSTATE
- CAS-GREENHILL
- CAS-HASLEY
- CAS-HILLCREST
- CAS-INDUSTRY
- CAS-LIVEOAK
- CAS-OAKCANYON
- CAS-ROMERO
- CAS-SLOAN
- CAS-VALVERDE
- GOR-E004
- GOR-HUNGRYVALLEY
- LAC-E005
- LAC-E009-B
- LAC-E011-A
- LAC-E017
- LAC-E018
- LAC-E030
- SCL-BLACKPINE
- SCL-CALEX
- SCL-DECORO
- SCL-MOUNTAINVIEW
- SCL-PACIFICCREST
- SCL-RANCHOTESORO
- SCL-RIONORTE
- SCL-RYE
- SCL-WESTHILLS
Mandatory evacuation order lifted in Northlake community
10:45 a.m.: One of the areas that went from an evacuation order to a warning was the Northlake community in Santa Clarita. Residents are asked to remain on high alert. "When we have a warning, that means we still need to have a bag packed ready to go because the winds can shift and something could change in a moment's notice," said Jeremy Ruiz, engineer with the Kern County Fire Department.
Evacuation warnings have been lifted and have returned to a normal status for the following fire zones:
- CAS-CAMBRIDGE
- CAS-GOLDENSTATE
- CAS-GREENHILL
- CAS-HASLEY
- CAS-HILLCREST
- CAS-INDUSTRY
- CAS-LIVEOAK
- CAS-OAKCANYON
- CAS-ROMERO
- CAS-SLOAN
- CAS-VALVERDE
Thursday morning updates on the Eaton, Palisades and Hughes fires
10 a.m.: LA County's Coordinated Joint Information Center provided the following updates on the active firefighters. Details below.
Hughes Fire
- Fire size: 10,176 acres
- Containment: 14% contained
- Structures damaged: 0
- Structures destroyed: 0
Eaton Fire
- Fire Size: 14,021 acres
- Containment: 95% contained
- Structures threatened: 6,775
- Structures damaged: 1,073
- Structres destroyed: 9,418
Palisades Fire
- Fire Size: 23,448
- Containment: 72% contained
- Structures damaged: 904
- Structures destroyed: 6,770
Evacuation orders and warnings downgraded in Hughes Fire
9:45 a.m.: Some evacuation orders and warnings were downgraded in the Hughes Fire. However, the following areas were still impacted.
Evacuation orders
- LAC-E008
- CAS-CASTAICLAKE
- CAS-BITTERCANYON
- LAC-E016
- CAS-CHARLIECANYON
Evacuation warnings
- CAS-BISCAILUZ
- SCL-KELLYJOHNSON
- SCL-RANCHOTESORO
- CAS-RIDGE
- SCL-STERLING
- SCL-TESORODELVALLE
- LAC-FRANCISQUITO
- LAC-E029
- CAS-PARADISERANCH
CSU Channel Island evacuated
9:09 a.m.: Due to the proximity to the fire, CSU Channel Islands was ordered to evacuate.
Laguna Fire breaks out in Camarillo
9 a.m.: The Laguna Fire was reported in the area of Laguna and Lewis roads.
Nearly 56,000 residents under evacuation orders, warnings in Hughes Fire
8:50 a.m.: The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said an estimated 16,200 residents were under a mandatory evacuation order while 38,700 were under an evacuation warning.
Fire crews aim to gain upper hand against Hughes Fire
8:02 a.m.: FOX 11's Mario Ramiez reported from Castaic where deputies were turning residents away.
Pasadena students thrilled to return to school
7:45 a.m. FOX 11's Koco McAboy spoke to a student who was excited to be back at school and return to soccer practice after Willard Elementary was closed for weeks due to the Eaton Fire.
Pasadena students excited to return to school
FOX 11's Koco McAboy spoke to a student at Willard Elementary School in Pasadena where he was excited to return to school. Classes were canceled for nearly two weeks after the Eaton Fire destroyed Pasadena, Altadena and other parts of the San Gabriel Valley.
Road Closures
7:30 a.m.: The Grapevine section of the 5 Freeway has reopened.
The following road closures remain in effect:
- The northbound 5 Freeway to Parker Road off-ramp
- The northbound 5 Freeway to Lake Hughes Road off-ramp
- Parker Road/Ridge Road eastbound from The Old Road
- Lake Hughes Road Road eastbound from The Old Road
Dust and Ash Advisory
7:15 a.m.: Due to wildfire smoke, an Air Quality Alert is in effect for parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties through 6 p.m. Thursday.

Hughes Fire evacuation centers
7:05 a.m.: Two evacuation centers have opened for those impacted by the Hughes Fire.
- College of the Canyons: 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA, 91355
- Hart High School: 24825 Newhall Avenue, Santa Clarita, CA, 91321
Pasadena schools reopen
7 a.m.: The Pasadena Unified School District welcomed back students for the first time in over two weeks after the Eaton Fire left communities in the San Gabriel Valley devastated.
School Closures
6:00 a.m. Some schools are closed in the Santa Clarita Valley on Thursday. See a full list of school closures below:
- Castaic High School
- Valencia High School
- Rio Norte Junior High School
- Academy of the Canyons
- All schools within the Castaic Union School District
- Select schools in the Saugus Unified School District: West Creek Academy, Tesoro del Valley Elementary, Mountainview Elementary, as well as the district office.
Hughes Fire grows overnight
5:30 a.m.: The Hughes Fire grew overnight with Cal Fire reporting 10,176 acres burned with 14% containment.
Evacuation Orders
The following fire zones remain under evacuation orders: CAS-BISCAILUZ, CAS-BITTERCANYON, CAS-CASTAICLAKE, CAS-CHARLIECANYON, CAS-PARADISERANCH, CAS-RIDGE, , LAC-E008, LAC-E016, LAC-E029, LAC-FRANCISQUITO, SCL-KELLYJOHNSON, SCL-REYESADOBE, SCL-STERLING, SCL-TESORODELVALLE, VNC Zone 1.
Evacuation Warnings
The following fire zones remain under an evacuation warning: CAS-CAMBRIDGE, CAS-GOLDENSTATE, CAS-GREENHILL, CAS-HASLEY, CAS-HILLCREST, CAS-INDUSTRY, CAS-LIVEOAK, CAS-OAKCANYON, CAS-ROMERO, CAS-SLOAN, CAS-VALVERDE, GOR-E004, GOR-HUNGRYVALLEY, LAC-E005, LAC-E009-B, LAC-E011-A, LAC-E011-B, LAC-E017, LAC-E018, LAC-E030, SCL-BLACKPINE, SCL-CALEX, SCL-DECORO, SCL-MOUNTAINVIEW, SCL-PACIFICCREST, SCL-RANCHOTESORO, SCL-REYESABODE, SCL-RIONORTE, SCL-WESTHILLS, SCL-RYE, VNC Zone 2, VNC Zone 3, VNC Zone 4, VNC Zone 5, VNC Zone 6, VNC Zone 7, VNC Zone 8.

Hughes Fire evacuation zones (Cal Fire)
Click here to get emergency notifications from LA County.
SigAlert canceled on the 405 Freeway
4:30 a.m.: The California Highway Patrol canceled a SigAlert for areas that were impacted by the Sepulveda Fire.
- The Getty Center Drive offramps from the northbound and southbound 405 Freeway have reopened.
- The Sepulveda Boulevard offramp from the southbound 405 Freeway has reopened.
Forward progress stopped on Sepulveda Fire
1:55 a.m.: The Los Angeles Fire Department said forward progress has been stopped on the Sepulveda Fire that ignited on the 405 Freeway in the Sherman Oaks area. All evacuation warnings have been lifted.
OFFICIAL FIRE AND EVACUATION MAPS FROM GENASYS PROTECT:
The Hughes Fire
The Huges Fire was first reported in the Castaic area on Wednesday, Jan. 22 along Lake Hughes Road near Castaic Lake. Within an hour, the fire exploded from 50 to 500 acres. Officials quickly issued evacuation orders and warnings, including students who were taken to other schools and locations.
The 5 Freeway was also closed at the Grapevine as the fire jumped the freeway to Ventura County.
The Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire was first reported on Tuesday, Jan. 7 near Altadena and Midwick drives.
Some residents did not survive the flames and at least 7,000 structures were destroyed.
Authorities have implemented a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for all areas that remain under mandatory evacuation orders in the Altadena area. This comes after more than 30 looting arrests were made by the LA County Sheriff's Department.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but they were fueled by extreme drought conditions, combined with the supersized Santa Ana winds that whipped flames and embers at 100 mph – much faster than usual.
A lawsuit filed Monday claims Southern California Edison equipment sparked the Eaton Fire.
The lawsuit alleges that Southern California Edison failed to comply with essential electrical and fire safety standards, including failing to maintain power lines and overgrown vegetation.
The Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire broke out on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 7 as parts of Southern California were hit by powerful Santa Ana winds – the strongest to hit the area in over a decade, officials said. The piercing winds not only intensified the spread of the fire, it also prevented helicopters and planes from dumping water or fire retardant onto the burning scene as it was too dangerous to fly during the first day of the massive fire.
The fire extended well over 23,000 acres in seven days, destroying homes and businesses across the Pacific Palisades and Malibu. The fire also forced evacuations across parts of LA County, including Bel-Air, Brentwood and Santa Monica.
The fire also destroyed the Pacific Palisades Charter High School and other schools in the fire's path.
What caused the Palisades Fire?
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, a popular hiking destination, Skull Rock – an area north of Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades – is at the center of an investigation "as a possible starting point for the Palisades fire."
Meanwhile, local authorities have announced multiple rounds of arrests taking place from the Palisades Fire scenes, but none of which are explicitly related to the cause of the fire. Over the weekend, there was an announcement of a man arrested for impersonating a firefighter. The alleged "fake firefighter" was accused of trying to break into one of the evacuated homes.
Other people have also been accused of arson across Southern California.