Tens of thousands of residents remain under evacuation orders and warnings Thursday morning as firefighters continue to battle for containment on the Hughes Fire that erupted near Castaic.
The blaze was reported around 11 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Lake Hughes Road near Castaic Lake and used gusty winds to rapidly spread through steep terrain.
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Firefighters monitor flames caused by the Hughes Fire along a roadside in Castaic, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
A helicopter drops water on the Hughes Fire as firefighters monitor flames in Castaic, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) -
Firefighters work to control the spread of the Hughes Fire in Castaic, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) -
Flames caused by the Hughes Fire is seen along Castaic Lake in Castaic, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) -
Fighter fighters monitor flames caused by the Hughes Fire along Castaic Lake in Castaic, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) -
A helicopter drops water on the Hughes Fire along Castaic Lake in Castaic, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) -
A wildfire burns along a ridge from the Hughes Fire in Castaic, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia) -
An air tanker makes a retardant drop around the Hughes Fire in northern Los Angeles County on Jan. 22, 2025. (KTLA) -
Sky5 view of the Hughes Fire next to Castaic Lake. Jan. 22, 2025. (KTLA) -
Sky5 view of the Hughes Fire next to Castaic Lake. Jan. 22, 2025. (KTLA) -
The Hughes Fire is seen on Jan. 22, 2025. (KTLA)
Thousands of firefighters were called to battle the Hughes Fire, which had scorched 10,176 acres as of 11:36 p.m. Wednesday. Crews had built the containment level to 14%, according to Cal Fire.
Firefighters continued to make progress overnight putting out flareups and dousing hotspots. Winds were relatively calm early Thursday but are likely to pick up again later in the morning.
There were no reports of homes or structures lost in the fire but officials told KTLA that roughly 31,000 people, including residents of Castaic, were under evacuation orders. A portion of Ventura County near Lake Piru was also placed in the mandatory evacuation zone.
About 23,000 more were under evacuation warnings, including residents of Ventura County south of Lake Piru.
An evacuation center was set up for residents at the College of the Canyons located at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road in Santa Clarita.
As a result of the blaze, the 5 Freeway was temporarily closed between the 126 Freeway and Grapevine Road, though the California Highway Patrol reopened the roadway Wednesday evening.
All schools in the Castaic Union School District are closed Thursday due to the blaze. Additional schools will be closed in the William S. Hart Union High School District and the Saugus Union Elementary School District. A complete list of school closures can be found here.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
