Los Angeles Wildfires: New ‘Hughes Fire’ Triggers Evacuations for 50,000 Residents

Los Angeles Wildfires: A new fast-moving wildfire has erupted in Los Angeles County, prompting tens of thousands to evacuate a region already reeling from the most destructive fires in its history.

The Hughes fire ignited about 45 miles north-west of the city of Los Angeles on Wednesday morning, near Castaic Lake in a mountainous area that borders several residential areas and schools.

Plumes of dark smoke were seen near Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area in the northwestern neighbourhood of Los Angeles, located about 40 kilometres from the destructive Eaton and Palisades fire that continue to be burning for the third week now.

Data from CAL Fire showed that the Palisades fire, which has charred 23,448 acres of land to date, is under 68 percent containment. The Eaton fire, meanwhile, is under 91 per cent containment after burning down 14,021 acres.

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At a press briefing on Wednesday evening, CAL Fire director Joe Tyler said, "This (Hughes) fire had a robust response today, and as you can see behind us, the responders are doing great work to try to contain this fire."

The start and rapid growth of the #HughesFire in Los Angeles County seen from ALERTCalifornia's Whitaker Ridge camera. Check conditions live on multiple cameras at https://t.co/Azu4PbZNY7 and look to @Angeles_NF and @LACOFD for updates. pic.twitter.com/JyKOpyY2jx

— ALERTCalifornia (@ALERTCalifornia) January 22, 2025

"Certainly, we are not out of the woods yet," Tyler added.

Kayla Amara drove to Castaic's Stonegate neighborhood to collect items from the home of a friend who had rushed to pick up her daughter at preschool. As Amara was packing the car, she learned the fire had exploded in size and decided to hose down the property.

"Other people are hosing down their houses, too. I hope there's a house here to return to," Amara said as police cars raced through the streets and flames engulfed trees on a hillside in the distance.

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Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, said she's been on edge for weeks as major blazes devastated Southern California.

"It's been stressful with those other fires, but now that this one is close to home it's just super stressful," she said.

"Even a brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems," Ferrer said on Wednesday, asking people to wear protective gear while cleaning up.

The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds came as firefighters continued battling the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out January 7.

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