Fire Erupts Near Castaic, Forces Evacuations and Highway Closures

A large fire, dubbed the Hughes fire, broke out north of Castaic on Wednesday. It quickly spread to over 9, 400 acres, prompting thousands of residents to flee their homes. The fire started near Lake Hughes Road and grew rapidly due to strong Santa Ana winds. By the afternoon, more than 31, 000 people were ordered to evacuate, and another 20, 000 were under evacuation warnings. The Interstate 5 was closed, causing significant traffic snarls. Despite the fire's rapid growth, no structures were reported damaged.Firefighters faced challenges due to the rugged terrain and strong winds. The fire was burning in an area that was previously affected by the Route fire in 2022. The Hughes fire was one of two fires that started on Wednesday amid red flag conditions. Forecasters predicted that a storm would bring some moisture to the region but warned that it would not end the fire season. Castaic Union School District principals returned to their schools to assist parents and guardians in evacuating students. Schools like Valencia High were prepared as evacuation centers. The cause of the fire remains unknown.