In Castaic, California, on January 22, 2025, inmate firefighters bravely moved into the inferno, using only hand tools and chain saws to carve a line in the Hughes Fire’s path.
Fire teams have made significant progress in battling a fierce brush fire that erupted north of Los Angeles on Wednesday. Fueled by strong winds, the blaze quickly grew, engulfing thousands of acres, as reported by officials. Known as the Hughes Fire, this incident began near Castaic Lake and by Thursday evening, firefighters had successfully contained 36% of the fire, which had spread over 10,000 acres, according to Cal Fire’s updates. Fortunately, no structures have been lost to the flames.
A Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopter was seen dropping up to 2,300 gallons of water over the Hughes Fire, showcasing the efforts involved in controlling the blaze.
On Wednesday, the fire necessitated mandatory evacuations for over 31,000 residents. While these orders were lifted by Thursday afternoon, an additional 54,900 people were advised to remain alert and be ready to evacuate if the situation worsened, stated the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The fire, driven by relentless Santa Ana winds, presented a tough challenge, according to Cal Fire Battalion Chief Brent Pascua. It broke out amidst a critical fire weather warning, just after the harrowing Palisades and Eaton fires wreaked havoc, taking at least 28 lives and obliterating thousands of homes in the Los Angeles area.
Reports pinpointed the fire’s origin to 10:24 a.m. on Wednesday, near Lake Hughes Road, close to Castaic Lake in northern Los Angeles County. Dry, combustible vegetation provided ample fuel for the flames, noted Pascua, and the cause is still under investigation.
Meanwhile, another fire started in the Sepulveda Pass on Wednesday, quickly expanding to 40 acres near Sherman Oaks and UCLA. Although it advanced rapidly, efforts to contain it were effective, and by Thursday, it was 60% contained. Nonetheless, “red flag” warnings persisted, set to end by 10 a.m. on Friday, as per the National Weather Service, which emphasized that any new fires could escalate rapidly.
The winds on Wednesday aiding the Hughes Fire’s spread, although strong, weren’t as extreme as those that had exacerbated the Palisades and Eaton fires on January 7, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. Those previous winds were so severe that they grounded firefighting aircraft and have been linked to broader concerns about climate change, which experts claim is increasing the likelihood of such devastating fires.
The impact of the Palisades and Eaton fires, which leveled communities and were described as some of Los Angeles’ worst disasters, still looms large. The Eaton Fire, which ravaged Altadena and other local cities, was 95% contained by Thursday, having consumed over 14,000 acres while destroying upwards of 9,400 structures. Similarly, the Palisades Fire wreaked havoc across Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and the Pacific Coast Highway, damaging or destroying numerous buildings. It has burned more than 23,400 acres and was 72% contained by Thursday. Both fires were spurred by Santa Ana winds reminiscent of a hurricane, leading to what officials termed a firestorm. Investigations into their origins continue.
