A rapidly spreading wildfire erupted on January 22, 2025, approximately 50 miles north of Los Angeles, burning over 3,400 acres in the Castaic Lake area of Los Angeles County. The Hughes Fire forced evacuations with authorities issuing warnings of an “immediate threat to life.” The exact number of evacuees was not disclosed, but the affected community, Castaic, is home to roughly 18,600 residents.
The blaze coincides with ongoing red flag warnings across Southern California, as strong, dry winds create extreme fire risk. Firefighters from Angeles National Forest are tackling the wildfire, and the U.S. Forest Service announced the closure of the entire 700,000-acre San Gabriel Mountains park to visitors.
Meanwhile, progress is being made on two major wildfires that have ravaged the Los Angeles metropolitan area since January 7. The Eaton Fire, which burned over 14,000 acres east of the city, is now 91% contained. The larger Palisades Fire, which consumed more than 23,000 acres on the west side, is 68% contained, according to Cal Fire.
Combined, these two fires have claimed 28 lives, damaged or destroyed nearly 16,000 structures, and forced up to 180,000 evacuations at their peak. AccuWeather estimates the economic impact of the fires at more than $250 billion.
Fire containment efforts continue as Southern California faces a challenging wildfire season fueled by dry conditions and high winds.
