Over 50,000 under evacuation orders, warnings as wildfire imperils homes north of Los Angeles

Massive wildfire near Los Angeles prompts evacuations, containment efforts, and concerns about potential mudslides and toxic air quality.

More than 50,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings Wednesday (January 22, 2025) as a huge and fast-moving wildfire swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, as parched Southern California endured another round of dangerous winds and two major previous blazes continued to smolder.

The Hughes Fire broke out in the late morning and within hours charred more than 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) of trees and brush, sending up plumes of dark smoke near Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are burning for a third week.

“This fire had a robust response today, and as you can see behind us, the responders are doing great work to try to contain this fire," Joe Tyler, director of Cal Fire, said at a Wednesday (January 22, 2025) evening press conference. “Certainly, we are not out of the woods yet.”

More than 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, and another 23,000 are under evacuation warnings, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said the fire remains difficult to contain but firefighters are getting the upper hand.

“Parts of Interstate 5 that had been closed will shortly be reopened,” Mr. Luna said.

A 30-mile (48-kilometer) stretch of the major north-south artery had been closed for emergency vehicles and moving equipment. Crews on the ground and in water-dropping aircraft tried to prevent the wind-driven fire from moving across the interstate and toward Castaic.