As dusk settled on the evening of Wednesday, January 22, 2025, light appeared over the horizon of North Castaic, California, but it wasn’t the sun. Yet another wildfire has broken out in Southern California. The latest, the Hughes Fire, rages over 10,000 acres while the Altoona Fire continues to burn in LA.
Evacuation orders for the Castaic Lake region have expanded to include Ventura as the fire continues to spread throughout Thursday. Over 31,000 have fled their homes, while 21,000 have been issued warnings to stand by.
The fire, which is only one mile north of the Getty Center, is expected to grow stronger as the day progresses. Proposed wind storms of 65 mph will reach the region by the evening. According to Todd Hall of the National Weather Service, the fire ignited amidst the perfect conditions—increasing winds, dry air, and humidity levels of 3%- 8%. Red Flag weather warnings will continue for the region until Friday.
Due to an increased presence of firefighters in the area and the quick response of helicopters as the blaze broke out, responders have managed to protect the structures closest to the fire, including Saint Mary’s University. “There are no structures damaged and no injuries reported,” a spokesperson for the LA Fire Department said. “Firefighters will remain on scene through the night conducting mop-up operations to ensure no hot spots remain.”
The Hughes Fire comes as California continues to face increased fire dangers. Red Flag warnings have been issued in parts of the state for the last seventeen days. While it may take months for responders to know the actual death toll, the Palisades fire has claimed at least 27 lives so far.
