A rapidly spreading brush fire near Castaic, California, has forced evacuations for over 31,000 people and prompted a significant firefighting response. Fueled by dry brush and strong winds, the fire grew to over 8,000 acres by the evening, prompting concerns about containment.
Evacuations were ordered in the area near Lake Hughes Road off the 5 Freeway as a brush fire spread rapidly in the hills near Castaic , north of Los Angeles. The fire, reported at about 10:30 a.m. PT off the northbound 5 Freeway at Lake Hughes Road, was fueled by critically dry hillside brush. A thick smoke cloud, visible from miles around, cast a dark shadow over the area, including a residential community near Lake Hughes Road, in northern Los Angeles County.
The fire grew to more than 100 acres in less than an hour, jumping to about 500 acres before noon and 3,400 about 30 minutes later. By 1 p.m., Cal Fire reported the fire at more than 5,000 acres, reaching over 8,000 acres by 5 p.m. Evacuation orders were issued for approximately 31,000 people, with another 25,000 residents under an evacuation warning. At least a dozen water-dropping aircraft, including at least one tanker, were deployed to the location about 40 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. 'They're going to take advantage of this time,' said NBCLA fire and safety expert Chief Sam DiGiovanni of the firefighting aircraft. Winds were expected to pick up in the afternoon and evening, with gusts Wednesday morning at 10 mph to 20 mph. The strongest winds are expected between midday and 6 p.m. Sustained winds over 40 miles per hour and high-velocity gusts can impact a firefighting plane's ability to safely approach and depart a targeted area, while also affecting water and retardant drop accuracy. 'We had a very robust ground and air response,' said LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone at a 5 p.m. news conference. 'The fire remains a difficult fire to contain, although we are getting the upper hand.' Details about how the fire started in Angeles National Forest were not immediately available. The forest has been closed since the start of the deadly Eaton Fire on January 7, northeast of Los Angeles. That closure order could be extended due to high fire danger after a dry start to the wet season in Southern California. After record rain last season, a months-long dry spell left hillsides covered in dry brush, providing fuel for wildfires. Under a red flag warning, any fires that do start are more likely to spread at a rapid rate. Flying embers also speed a brush fire's spread. Strong winds can cast hot embers for miles, starting spot fires ahead of the main fire line. 'There's a critical rate of spread for this fire,' said LA County Fire public information officer Fred Fielding. 'This vegetation is extremely dry. We've had two years of above average rainfall (2023 and 2024)… so you've got a lot of these light grasses where these fires can start, and if it gets into that old growth vegetation there's a lot of energy there. Combine that with the winds, and you've got a recipe for a very high rate of spread.'The fire comes amid concerns about wildfire risk in Southern California, with two other major fires burning in the region. The Eaton Fire northeast of Los Angeles was at 14,000 acres with 91-percent containment. The Palisades Fire on the LA County coast was 23,400 acres with containment at 68 percent.
Brush Fire Evacuations Castaic California Wildfire Angeles National Forest Red Flag Warning
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