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Fast Moving Hughes Fire Breaks Out in Castaic, Prompting Evacuations

The fire has grown to more than 5,000 acres, prompting road closures and evacuation orders.
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hughesfire.jpg
Smoke billows from the Hughes Fire as residents are ordered to evacuate on Jan. 22, 2025. | (Courtesy Mary Acharon)

This article was originally published on Jan. 22, 2025 on laist.com.

This is a developing story and will be updated. For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:

The Hughes Fire that broke out Wednesday near Castaic Lake quickly grew to more than 5,000 acres, prompting road closures and evacuation orders.
Castaic High School, which has around 1,330 students, has been evacuated with students released to parents or moved to West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch.

Castaic Union District office clerk Renee Stewart told LAist that all schools have been evacuated, that is around 2000 students per the California Schools Dashboard.

The evacuated schools are:

  • Castaic Elementary School
  • Castaic Middle School
  • Live Oak Elementary School
  • Northlake Hills Elementary

Northlake Hills Elementary students went to the Castaic Sports Complexwhile students that have not been picked up by their parents from other schools are in the Ralph's parking lot at the intersection of Old Road and Halsey Canyon Road.

Evacuation warnings are also in place for several neighboring areas.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning in the area until 8 p.m. Thursday, a wind advisory is in effect until 10 p.m. Wednesday and high wind warnings are in effect from overnight until 2 p.m. Thursday.

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The basics

  • Acreage: 5,054 acres as of late Wednesday morning
  • Containment: 0%
  • Structures destroyed: None reported
  • Deaths: None
  • Injuries: None
  • Personnel working on fire: Unknown

Evacuation map and orders

maphughes.jpg
A map shows the fire zone of the Hughes Fire on Jan. 22, 2025. | (CalFire)

Evacuation orders have been issued by the Los Angeles County Fire Department for the following areas:

  • CAS-CASTAICLAKE
  • CAS-RIDGE
  • CAS-PARADISERANCH
  • CAS-CAMBRIDGE
  • CAS-GREENHILL
  • CAS-HASLEY
  • CAS-HILLCREST
  • CAS-RIDGE
  • CAS-ROMERO
  • CAS-SLOAN
  • LAC-E008

Evacuation warnings

Authorities say those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave immediately. [These areas are shown in the map above.]

  • CAS-BITTERCANYON
  • CAS-CHARLIECANYON
  • CAS-GOLDENSTATE
  • GOR-E004
  • LAC-E005
  • LAC-E009-B
  • LAC-E011-A
  • LAC-E011-B
  • LAC-E016
  • LAC-FRANCISQUITO
  • SCL-KELLYJOHNSON
  • SCL-TESORODELVALLE
  • SLC-REYESABODE
  • SLC-STERLING

Valencia High School, 27801 Dickson Dr, Valencia has been set up as an evacuation center.

Road closures

  • Ridge Route Road at Lake Hughes Road
  • Ridge Route Road at Templin Highway
  • Lake Hughes Road at Pine Canyon Road
  • Dry Gulch at San Francisquito Canyon Road
  • The off ramps from I-5 northbound at Parker Road and Lake Hughes Road

The 5 Freeway remains open, but authorities are warning drivers to exercise caution as visibility might be impacted by smoke.

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