Additional evacuations were ordered for residents near a large fast-moving wildfire north of Los Angeles, as parched southern California endured another round of dangerous winds ahead of possible rain over the weekend.
The Hughes fire broke out late on Wednesday morning and quickly consumed nearly 5,000 acres of trees and brush, sending up an enormous plume of dark smoke near Castaic Lake. This popular recreation area is located about 40 miles (64 km) from the Eaton and Palisades fires, which have been burning for over three weeks.
Off-ramps along Interstate 5, a major north-south highway, were closed as the flames raced across hilltops and down into rugged canyons. Crews on the ground, supported by aircraft dropping water, worked to prevent the wind-driven fire from advancing south toward more populated foothill communities like Castaic, which is home to approximately 19,000 people. Another 15,000 residents in nearby areas were warned to prepare for evacuation at a moment’s notice, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
At least three schools in the area were evacuated as a precautionary measure, said the California Highway Patrol. The fire was raging north of a large county jail complex, and by Wednesday afternoon, the LA Sheriff’s Department began relocating 476 incarcerated people from the Pitchess Detention Center to the nearby North County Correctional Facility.
The ACLU of Southern California has called for the evacuation of the jail, which is located within a mandatory evacuation zone. The facility houses more than 4,700 individuals, including 1,200 with diagnosed mental health issues. “I am really scared,” said Melissa Camacho, ACLU senior staff attorney. “I would assume a mandatory evacuation zone means the fire department believes everybody needs to leave to preserve their lives,” she added, expressing concern over overcrowding in the receiving facility and the logistical challenges of evacuating thousands of people rapidly.
Meanwhile, officials in Los Angeles were preparing for the possibility of rain, even as some residents were allowed to return to the charred Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. The gusty weather conditions were expected to continue through Thursday. Todd Hall, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, emphasized that another round of critical fire conditions was forecast for southern California. “It sounds like a broken record,” he said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to expedite cleanup efforts in burned areas and mitigate the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants. Crews were instructed to remove vegetation, reinforce hillsides, and shore up roads ahead of potential rain. Los Angeles County Supervisors also approved an emergency motion to install flood control infrastructure and expedite the removal of sediment in fire-impacted areas.
Experts have warned that the ashes from burned homes and vehicles may contain hazardous materials, including lead, arsenic, and plastic-based carcinogens. Additionally, wildfires increase the risk of mudslides by making the landscape more prone to erosion. In January 2018, heavy storms triggered a deadly mudslide in Montecito, where recent wildfires had weakened the terrain.
Firefighters are also concerned about the impact of even small amounts of rain, as it could trigger dangerous debris flows. A 60-80% chance of light rain is expected in southern California starting Saturday, with up to an inch of rain possible in localized thunderstorms. Meteorologists caution that such conditions could further exacerbate the risks posed by the wildfire’s aftermath.
Emergency responders have already begun preparing by filling sandbags to protect vulnerable communities. Winds eased somewhat on Tuesday afternoon after reaching speeds of 60 mph (97 km/h) in many areas, but gusty conditions were expected to persist. Red flag warnings for critical fire risks have been extended until Thursday evening in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
“Our concern is the next fire, the next spark that causes the next wildfire,” said David Acuna, a spokesperson for Cal Fire. The two major fires still burning, the Palisades and Eaton fires, could potentially break their containment lines, creating further challenges for firefighters.
As of Tuesday, evacuations were lifted for smaller blazes, including the Friars and Lilac fires in San Diego, and the Pala fire in Riverside. However, the Clay fire in Riverside was still only 40% contained, with evacuation orders in place.
In response to the continued wildfire threat, Southern California Edison preemptively shut off power to more than 60,000 customers across five counties to prevent new fires from being sparked by toppled electrical equipment. Electricity was later restored to most of the affected areas, but the utility was considering precautionary shutoffs for an additional 187,000 customers on Wednesday.
Authorities have urged residents to review their evacuation plans, prepare emergency kits, and stay vigilant for new fires. Additionally, Mayor Bass warned that winds could carry ash, advising Angelenos to visit the city’s website for guidance on protecting themselves from toxic air during the Santa Ana wind event.
The ongoing fires in southern California have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since their onset in early January. Containment efforts have made some progress, with the Palisades fire now 68% contained, and the Eaton fire at 91%.
As investigations continue into the cause of these fires, several lawsuits have been filed by victims who lost their homes in the Eaton fire, alleging that Southern California Edison equipment may have sparked the blaze. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is also involved in the investigation.
Concerns have also arisen over why some residents of Altadena, where many deaths occurred, were not evacuated sooner.
Donald Trump has announced plans to travel to Los Angeles on Friday to assess the ongoing situation.
