Brush fire breaks out near Castaic Lake; evacuation ordered

Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest Service personnel are battling a fast-moving brush fire that started near Castaic Lake shortly after 1 p.m. 10:40 a.m. Wednesday and quickly got evacuation orders for the lake and much of Castaic.

Dubbed the Hughes Fire, the blaze spread quickly along both sides of Lake Hughes Road northeast of the lake, and radio traffic shortly after 1 p.m. 11 indicated spot fires appeared near the Ridge Route approaching Interstate 5, prompting evacuations. of homes, businesses and schools in the Castaic area.

From As of 12:20 p.m., the fire has grown in size to 3,004 acres with 0% containment, according to a post on X from the Angeles National Forest.

A post from ANF at 12:47 p.m. said Valencia High School, located at 27801 Dickason Drive, is being used as a temporary evacuation site.

The Castaic Sports Complex and Paradise Ranch Mobile Home Park were placed under evacuation orders at 11:20

North Lake Hills Elementary was also evacuated just after 1 p.m. 11:30 a.m., according to Charmin Ortega, executive assistant to the superintendent of the Castaic Union School District.

Castaic High School, Castaic Middle School and Castaic Elementary School were all listed as being under evacuation orders as of 1 p.m. 11:40 am

“As many of you may know, a vegetation fire is currently burning on the east side of Castaic Lake,” reads an alert sent by the William S. Hart Union High School District to Castaic High families. “We have been assured by our police and fire partners that the school is currently in no danger. Out of an abundance of caution and as a result of inclement weather conditions, we will immediately suspend all school activities for the day. Students will be dismissed to go at 11:40 a.m
“For any students who are unable to be picked up, we have buses coming at this time to transport students to West Ranch High School. We will notify all families when the buses are running so you know where you going to pick up your child.”

In a message sent to the entire Hart district just after 1 p.m. At 12:30 p.m., families were warned that no other schools were in warning areas, but that officials were “closely monitoring the situation and air quality” and updates would be provided as needed.

Saugus Union School District Superintendent Colleen Hawkins said the district has notified parents “out of an abundance of caution” that classes have been canceled at Tesoro Del Valle and West Creek elementary schools. The district’s child development program is closed for the day.

Both the College of the Canyons Valencia campus and the Canyon Country campus are closed and classes on the ground have been canceled Wednesday, according to Wendy Trujillo, spokeswoman for the college and part of the incident command team. She said the college will serve as a Red Cross evacuation center.

Online classes are still set to be held, Trujillo said.

Road closures have also been put in place, according to a post from the Angeles National Forest on X at noon. They are as follows:

• Ridge Route Road at Lake Hughes Road.
• Ridge Route Road at Templin Highway.
• Lake Hughes Road at Pine Canyon Road.
• Dry Gulch Road at San Francisquito Canyon Road.
• Golden State Freeway.
• Bitter Canyon.
• Sterling Lane.

The ramps at Parker Road and Lake Hughes Road on Interstate 5 have also been closed, according to Officer Carlos Burgos-Lopez, spokesman for the California Highway Patrol’s Newhall area office.

“I-5 is currently open and affected by the heavy smoke,” reads a post from the CHP office on X at 11:40 a.m. “Please drive safely through the area.”

The incident was initially reported as near Lake Hughes Road and Dry Gulch Road, but closer to Castaic Lake than Lake Elizabeth, according to radio dispatches

Initial radio broadcast reports indicated the fire quickly reached 50-100 acres and crossed Lake Hughes Road.

LA County Fire Department personnel were dispatched to fight the fire at 10:39 a.m., according to Luis Garcia, a spokesman for the department’s media information line, who adds that the location is close to Interstate 5.

The Angeles National Forest Service is leading the incident response, he said.

An evacuation order was issued for Castaic Lake from 11:08 am. Evacuation warnings have been posted on protect.genasys.comaccording to Deputy Robert Jensen of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, via text.

Dana Dierkes, public affairs officer for the Angeles National Forest, said firefighters responded to the incident off Lake Hughes Road, north of Castaic Reservoir Road in Castaic.

Click here for a link to the evacuation map:

This is a news story and additional information will be added as it becomes available.