| Emergency vehicles at the scene of the Hughes Fire in Castaic, a northwestern neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 22, 2025 |
A fast-moving wildfire erupted in the mountains north of Los Angeles, consuming approximately 21 square kilometers (8.1 square miles) of trees and brush. The blaze triggered thousands of evacuation orders for local residents and sent a massive plume of dark smoke billowing into the sky.
Firefighters reported on Wednesday that the Hughes Fire, located in the Castaic Lake area of Los Angeles County—roughly 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of downtown Los Angeles—posed an "immediate threat to life." Authorities issued evacuation orders to safeguard residents.
An estimated 18,600 people reside in the affected community, where intense flames swept across the hillsides around Castaic Lake. Robert Jensen of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department urged residents to leave promptly, citing previous tragedies in fires like the Eaton and Palisades blazes, which claimed 28 lives and left thousands homeless.
“We’ve seen the consequences of ignoring evacuation orders during devastating fires in the past,” Jensen stated. “We don’t want a repeat of that here. If you’ve been told to evacuate, please do so immediately.”
US television footage showed police vehicles driving through Castaic neighborhoods, urging residents to evacuate. Meanwhile, ground crews and water-dropping aircraft worked tirelessly to prevent the wind-driven fire from spreading southward toward more populated areas.
Strong, dry Santa Ana winds fueled the fire, carrying smoke and embers ahead of the flames. Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest collaborated to battle the inferno.
The cause of the Hughes Fire is still under investigation, but it broke out during red flag conditions, when strong winds and low humidity increase the risk of rapid fire spread. The University of California San Diego captured dramatic footage of the fire's explosive growth on its ALERTCalifornia online platform, showing smoke clouds rapidly engulfing hillsides.
As the Hughes Fire raged, President Donald Trump announced plans to visit Los Angeles on Friday. During his inaugural address on Monday, Trump criticized the response to previous wildfires in the region.
Meanwhile, the Eaton and Palisades fires, which have also ravaged Los Angeles County, are now largely under control, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
The Eaton Fire, which scorched 5,674 hectares (14,021 acres) east of Los Angeles, is 91 percent contained, while the Palisades Fire, burning 9,489 hectares (23,448 acres) to the west, is 70 percent contained. Since igniting on January 7, these fires have resulted in 28 deaths and the destruction of nearly 16,000 structures.
At their peak, the fires forced 180,000 residents to evacuate, Los Angeles County officials said.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimates that the fires around Los Angeles have caused more than $250 billion in damages and economic losses.
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