Wildfires ignite again near LA; 50,000 during evacuations or warnings

On January 23, 2025By Littum

WHITTIER, Calif. – Firefighters battled a fast-moving blaze in northern Los Angeles County on Thursday that closed schools and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes amid relentless Santa Ana winds and bone-dry conditions.

The Hughes Fire broke out Wednesday near Castaic Lake, a reservoir about 45 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The fire quickly consumed over 10,000 acres as authorities warned people in the area that they faced an “imminent threat to life.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday that about 31,000 people were under mandatory evacuation orders, while another 23,000 were under evacuation warnings. The fire was 14% contained on Thursday morning. according to Cal Fire.

Another brush fire broke out late Wednesday along the eastbound side of Interstate 405 near Bel Air and the University of California-Los Angeles. The blaze, dubbed the Sepulveda fire, initially prompted evacuation warnings, but those have been lifted as firefighters limited its spread to about 40 acres. The Los Angeles Fire Department said no structures were damaged in the fire and that firefighters worked overnight to “extinguish the fire and any hot spots.”

Over 1,100 firefighters had been “strategically pre-positioned” across Southern California to address the “ongoing critical fire weather,” according to Cal Fire. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said more than 4,000 firefighters battled the Hughes fire. Red flag warnings were in effect through Friday.

A number of wildfires have broken out since January 7 amid ongoing hurricane-force winds, low humidity and extremely dry air. Fire crews across the region have been working quickly to extinguish smaller brush fires while making progress on the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have damaged or destroyed nearly 16,000 structures and killed at least 28 people, Cal Fire said.

The National Weather Service expects “hazardous fire weather conditions” to last through at least Friday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties as firefighters battle multiple blazes across the region.

Forecasters said “fuels remain extremely dry” and strong Santa Ana winds will continue to be a persistent threat. “Any fire that starts can grow quickly and out of control,” the weather service said.

Winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected with some stronger gusts up to 50 mph possible at higher elevations. The winds will gradually decrease in intensity on Thursday evening and into Friday, the weather service says.

The Sepulveda fire broke out late Wednesday near Bel-Air, forcing officials to temporarily close the southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway just north of the famed Getty Center museum.

The highway was reopened within a few hours as firefighters managed to gain a foothold on the new brush fire. As of Thursday morning, officials lifted evacuation orders associated with the Sepulveda fire.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said it stopped the forward progress of the fire and no structures were damaged by the fire.

According to Cal Firethe Hughes Fire had grown to more than 10,000 acres with 14% containment. No structures had been reported damaged or destroyed. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

“The situation remains dynamic and the fire remains a difficult fire to contain even though we are getting the upper hand,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during a Wednesday press conference.

One of three facilities at the Pitchess Detention Center evacuated 476 inmates to another facility and was ready to evacuate the remaining 4,500 inmates if conditions worsened, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

The National Weather Service extended the red flag warning for most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties until Friday. 10:00 a.m. Light to moderate Santa Ana winds will continue through Thursday.

—Jennifer Cortez, USA TODAY Network