A fast-moving brush fire erupted in northern Los Angeles County on Wednesday, quickly racing across 3,400 acres of terrain, aided by heavy, dry brush and pushed by gusting Santa Ana winds, Cal Fire officials said.
Named the Hughes Fire, the blaze was reported just after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 in the area of Lake Hughes Road near the Golden State 5 Freeway near Castaic Lake, according to Cal Fire.
Crews on the scene reported the fire was spreading rapidly, spotting across Lake Hughes Road and prompting evacuation orders and warnings in the Castaic Lake area.
Evacuation warnings are now in place as far south as Highway 126 and north to Highway 138. Warnings are also in place to the Ventura County line just south of Pyramid Lake.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been expanded to the southwest, into the heart of Castaic. The Castaic Sports Complex, also under a mandatory evacuation order, is being used as a fire command post.
The 5 Freeway remained open in the area of the Hughes fire near Castaic Lake, the California Highway Patrol said, but the roadway is “affected by the heavy smoke.”
Two northbound freeway off-ramps are being closed: at Parker Road and at Lake Hughes Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Ridge Route Road is closed at Lake Hughes and at Templin Highway. Lake Hughes is closed at Pine Canyon, and Dry Gulch is closed at San Francisquito Canyon Road.
Firefighters from the LA County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest were attacking the blaze. It was unclear what sparked the fire, which occurred during persistent red flag fire conditions.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.