A fast-moving wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles on Wednesday, rapidly spreading to over 9,400 acres (38 square km) due to strong winds and dry conditions. Mandatory evacuation orders impacted over 31,000 residents, with another 23,000 warned to prepare.
The Hughes Fire, 50 miles north of Los Angeles, posed an “immediate threat to life” in the Castaic Lake area, officials said. Southern California remains under a red-flag warning for extreme fire risks. Interstate 5 was temporarily closed near the Grapevine due to heavy smoke but later reopened.
More than 4,000 firefighters, supported by helicopters and aircraft, battled the blaze. The Angeles National Forest, spanning 700,000 acres, has been closed to visitors. Persistent dry conditions over the past nine months have created hazardous fuel for fires, though rain is forecast from Saturday, potentially aiding firefighting efforts.
Meanwhile, two major Los Angeles fires, the Eaton Fire (14,021 acres) and the Palisades Fire (23,448 acres), are now 91% and 68% contained, respectively. Together, these fires have destroyed nearly 16,000 structures, killed 28 people, and displaced 180,000 residents since Jan. 7.
Officials report the Hughes Fire has already reached two-thirds the size of the Eaton Fire in just hours. AccuWeather estimates damages and economic losses from recent fires exceed $250 billion.
While smaller wildfires in the region have been extinguished recently, firefighters remain on high alert as conditions remain perilous.
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