On Wednesday, a rapidly spreading massive wildfire swept through the rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, prompting evacuation orders or warnings for over 50,000 people. However, fire officials stated that the swift coordinated action of ground and air forces is giving them the upper hand. The fire, dubbed the "Hughes" fire, broke out late in the morning and, in just six hours, burned approximately 39 square kilometers of trees and brush near Castaic Lake, a popular recreation area about 64 kilometers from the sites of the Eaton and Palisades fires that have been burning for three weeks.
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02-13, 2025Although the area was under a red flag warning, the winds were not as strong as during previous fire outbreaks, allowing fire-fighting aircraft to drop tens of thousands of gallons of fire retardant. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Wednesday evening, "Our situation today is very different from what it was 16 days ago." Currently, there have been no reports of homes or other buildings being burned. California Fire Chief Joe Tyler stated, "Today's fire response has been very robust, and as you can see, rescuers are going all out to control this fire. Of course, we are not completely out of danger yet."
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated that over 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, with another 23,000 under evacuation warnings. Portions of Interstate 5, which had been closed earlier to allow emergency vehicle passage, equipment relocation, and to prevent highway accidents due to heavy smoke, were reopened Wednesday evening. Ground and air firefighting crews are working to prevent the wind-driven fire from spreading across the interstate and toward Castaic. Marrone stated that because the winds are not as strong as they were two weeks ago, aircraft have been able to drop retardant on the south side of the fire (the direction the flames are spreading). Currently, over 4,000 firefighters have been deployed to fight the blaze.
The National Weather Service stated on social media platform X that winds in the area reached 67 kilometers per hour in the afternoon and are expected to increase to 96 kilometers per hour later and on Thursday. Carla Amara drove to the Stonegate community in Castaic to retrieve items from a friend's house, who had rushed to pick up her daughter from kindergarten. As Amara packed her car, she learned that the fire was rapidly expanding, and she decided to hose down the house. "Other people were hosing down their houses too. I hope there are still houses to go back to," Amara said, as police cars sped through the streets and flames engulfed trees on distant hillsides. Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, said she had been on edge for weeks due to the major fires in Southern California. "Those previous fires were already stressful, but this fire being so close to home is even more nerve-wracking," she said.
In the south, Los Angeles officials began preparing for potential rainfall, although some residents have been allowed to return to the burned areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena. The National Weather Service stated that strong winds are expected to continue through Thursday, with precipitation possible starting on Saturday. Supervisor Kathryn Barger stated at a news conference Wednesday morning, "There is rain in the forecast, and the threat of mudslides in our fire-affected communities is real." Fire crews are filling sandbags for communities, while county workers are installing barriers and clearing drainage pipes and basins. A severe fire risk red flag warning for Los Angeles and Ventura counties has been extended to 10 a.m. Friday. Officials remain concerned that the Palisades and Eaton fires could breach control lines, and firefighters are continuing to monitor hotspots.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned that high winds could carry ash and advised Los Angeles residents to visit the city's website for information on how to protect themselves from toxic air during the latest Santa Ana wind event. Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned that ash may contain heavy metals, arsenic, and other harmful substances. "Even brief exposure can cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems," Ferrer said Wednesday, urging people to wear protective gear when cleaning up. Low humidity, dry vegetation, and strong winds are occurring as firefighters continue to battle the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have caused at least 28 deaths and destroyed over 14,000 structures since they broke out on January 7. The Palisades fire is 68% contained, and the Eaton fire is 91% contained.
Luna stated Wednesday that his department is still investigating 22 missing person reports in the two fire areas. He said all those reported missing are adults. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is investigating the cause of the fires but has not released any findings. Several lawsuits have been filed by people who lost their homes in the Eaton fire, claiming that equipment from Southern California Edison caused the fire. On Tuesday, a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the utility company to provide circuit data from the area where the fire broke out.
