LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – As the more than 10,000-acre Hughes Fire in Castiac continues to burn with 14% containment, several school districts in areas impacted by the blaze will be closed on Thursday.
The Hughes Fire erupted around 10:50 a.m. in the area of Lake Hughes Road east of Castaic Lake and, so far, has prompted the evacuation of more than 31,0000 people with thousands more under evacuation warnings.
All schools in the Castaic Union School District are closed Jan. 23, with Superintendent Bob Brauneisen saying in a statement that the closure comes due to concerns about “poor air quality and the need to assess the safety of our facilities.”
Additionally, officials with the William S. Hart Union High School District said the following campuses will be closed tomorrow:
- Castaic High School
- Valencia High School
- Rio Norte Junior High School
- Academy of the Canyons
In the Saugus Union Elementary School District, officials said the following closures are in place tomorrow:
- West Creek Academy
- Tesoro del Valle Elementary
- Mountainview Elementary
- As well as the district’s offices
The Valencia and Canyon Country campuses at College of the Canyons will be closed to students and staff members, though “Online and Online Live classes will be held as scheduled,” the school’s website noted.
Fire crews will be working through the night to and residents in the area are asked to stay vigilant and evacuate immediately if ordered to do so.