The Hughes Fire, which scorched over 5,000 acres in less than three hours on Wednesday, caused multiple neighborhoods in the Castaic area to evacuate quickly.
The blaze was first reported shortly before 11 a.m. near Lake Hughes and the road of the same name, according to fire officials.
Evacuation orders and warnings were quickly issued and then expanded as the flames burned through dry brush in dangerously low humidity.
Several residents who live on Pine Crest Place in Castaic took a moment while hurriedly packing their belongings into their vehicles to speak with KTLA 5’s Ellina Abovian, including one young man who was helping his mother.
The young man told KTLA that, despite the urgent situation, he was “kind of chilling” but praying that his house doesn’t burn down.
“We’re getting ready to leave and probably go to my grandma’s house in Frazier Park,” he said, adding that he only noticed the flames when he woke up at 11 a.m.
Another man said he was going to stay at his home as long as he could.
“I’m going to water down the roofline and our backyard – we have some dry brush back there,” the man, whose son goes to the now-evacuated Castaic High School, said.
A third man, speaking from a home belonging to his girlfriend, said that he was focused on grabbing essential documents and family heirlooms in addition to turning on the sprinklers at the home.
“They blocked off the roads, so I had to run a couple of miles to get here,” the man said. “I’m okay, but I just want to make sure we get all the pets and everything that’s most important…Material things aren’t that important.”
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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) -
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) -
A firefighting helicopter attacks the Hughes Fire near Castaic, California. Jan. 22, 2025. (KTLA) -
Sky5 view of the Hughes Fire next to Castaic Lake. Jan. 22, 2025. (KTLA)
A woman, Martha, who spoke to KTLA said the only thing she was worried about was her family.
“We are okay, and that’s all I need,” Martha said. “I came from work, and my neighbors are helping me. They are awesome.”
Law enforcement officials were seen going door to door in the neighborhood encouraging residents to leave; they cannot be forced to evacuate.
Click here for the most up-to-date information on the Hughes Fire.
A map of evacuation zones can be found here and a list of shelters for evacuated residents and animals can be found here.
