A fast-moving wildfire near Los Angeles has forced tens of thousands of residents to flee as flames spread rapidly across dry, mountainous terrain.
The blaze, known as the Hughes Fire, ignited early Wednesday near Castaic Lake, about 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Fueled by strong winds and dry vegetation, it expanded to more than 10,000 acres within hours.
Authorities initially expressed confidence in controlling the fire, stating that no homes or businesses had been destroyed. However, with wind speeds reaching up to 30 mph (48 km/h), officials remain on high alert as they work to prevent further spread.
Residents scrambled to protect their properties, hosing down homes and gardens, while others rushed to evacuate. Officials issued a red flag warning for the area through Thursday, citing dangerous fire conditions due to low humidity and strong winds.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed that approximately 31,000 residents had been ordered to evacuate, with an additional 23,000 placed on standby. Around 500 inmates from a nearby jail were also relocated.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said firefighting crews were making progress, despite the fire’s continued growth. “The situation remains dynamic, and the fire is difficult to contain, although we are getting the upper hand,” he stated. By early Thursday, officials reported that the blaze was 14% contained.
The Hughes Fire is separate from the Palisades and Eaton wildfires earlier this month, which destroyed over 10,000 homes and businesses and claimed at least 28 lives. Unlike those previous fires, which were driven by hurricane-force winds, officials are optimistic about containment efforts due to more favorable weather conditions and increased aerial firefighting resources.
Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes of thick smoke and towering flames. One evacuee, stuck in traffic on Interstate 5—California’s main north-south highway—described the sight as terrifying.
“It looked like a cloud, but as you got closer, it felt like we were driving into hell,” she told NBC 4. “It was pretty terrifying.”
With the region still recovering from previous fires, residents remain anxious. “I don’t know why they keep popping up. It’s definitely a scary time in this area,” another evacuee said.
Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed an executive order to mobilize additional resources for disaster response, as scientists warn that climate change has intensified fire risks across California.
