New Wildfire Near Los Angeles Grows Rapidly, Evacuations Underway

A new wildfire that broke out north of Los Angeles on Wednesday quickly spread across more than 9,400 acres (38 square kilometers), fueled by dry brush and strong winds. The fire, named the Hughes Fire, is located about 50 miles (80 km) north of the city and has forced mandatory evacuations for over 31,000 people. The blaze has sent towering flames and thick plumes of smoke across a hilly region, further challenging firefighters who had recently managed to gain control over two major fires in the metropolitan area.
Within hours of igniting, the Hughes Fire had already grown to two-thirds the size of the Eaton Fire, one of the large wildfires that had previously ravaged the region. Although the area affected by the Hughes Fire is less populated than those of the previous blazes, firefighters have been facing significant challenges, including high winds and steep terrain that make it difficult to control the flames.
Authorities have issued warnings to residents in the Castaic Lake area of Los Angeles County, urging them to evacuate immediately due to the imminent threat to life posed by the fire. As strong, dry winds continue to drive the flames, much of Southern California remains under a red-flag warning for extreme fire risk. In addition to the mandatory evacuation orders for 31,000 people, another 23,000 individuals are under evacuation warnings.
In response to the growing threat, the Angeles National Forest, which covers 700,000 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains, has been closed to visitors. Firefighters continue to battle the blaze through the night, with officials closely monitoring the situation as the fire continues to spread.