Over 31 thousand people were told to evacuate on Wednesday after two new wildfires erupted in Los Angeles County. One fire named the Hughes Fire, is burning out of control near Castaic Lake, while another smaller fire started near Sherman Oaks but was quickly contained.

Context

The Hughes Fire began Wednesday morning near Castaic Lake in northern Los Angeles County. By midnight it had spread to cover more than 10 thousand acres (15 square miles) and was only 10% contained, according to Cal Fire officials. Strong winds and dry weather have fuelled the blaze, but no buildings have been damaged so far, as per Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

Later that evening another fire ignited in Sepulveda Pass near Sherman Oaks and UCLA. Although it spread to 40 acres, firefighters quickly stopped its progress. Residents in the area were initially warned to evacuate, but the alert was lifted after a few hours.

So far, mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for 31 thousand people, with another 23 thousand under warnings to prepare for possible evacuation. Firefighters are working tirelessly, dropping flame retardants to slow the spread of the Hughes Fire.

Key Quotes

“We are getting control, but this fire is still tough to manage,” said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone during a briefing.

Background

The Hughes Fire comes just weeks after two deadly fires in Los Angeles County—the Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire—which together claimed 27 lives and destroyed thousands of homes.

The Eaton Fire in Altadena, which began on January 7, has burned over 14 thousand acres and is now 95% contained. Meanwhile, the Palisades Fire scorched 23,400 acres and is 70% contained.

Road Closures and Impact

Parts of Interstate 5 near Castaic Lake were shut down due to the fire but later reopened. However, some exits remain closed. Officials have also started relocating 476 inmates from a nearby jail as a precaution.

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Cause Under Investigation

 According to the National Weather Service, The exact cause of the Hughes Fire is not yet known but experts believe high winds and dry conditions played a critical role. Red flag warnings remain in effect with wind gusts of up to 65 mph expected in mountain areas.

Authorities are urging residents to take evacuation orders seriously and prioritise safety. With winds expected to pick up firefighters are racing against time to contain the flames and protect homes.