Los Angeles, 23 January 2025: A new wildfire raged north of Los Angeles on Wednesday, rapidly spreading across 9,400 acres (38 square km) and triggering evacuations for more than 31,000 residents.
The blaze, named the Hughes Fire, erupted about 50 miles (80 km) from the city, compounding the strain on regional firefighting resources already deployed for other major fires in the area.
"Firefighters are doing everything they can, but the fire’s rapid spread remains a serious concern," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said in a briefing.
The fire has quickly grown to nearly two-thirds the size of the Eaton Fire, one of the two major fires currently plaguing Los Angeles, as it spread dangerously into the Castaic Lake area.
Officials warned residents there of an "immediate threat to life" as dry, strong winds and parched brush fueled the flames.
Over 23,000 additional residents have been issued evacuation warnings as conditions worsened.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed that emergency efforts were in full swing, with some 1,100 firefighters pre-positioned across Southern California. In total, more than 4,000 firefighters are tackling the Hughes Fire.
The Angeles National Forest, encompassing 700,000 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains, closed to the public, while nearby Interstate 5—the region's main north-south highway—was briefly shut down due to smoke visibility before being reopened following firefighting efforts.
With Southern California having gone without significant rainfall for nine months, the region remains on red-flag alert for extreme fire danger.
However, forecasts of rain over the weekend offer hope for much-needed relief.
Amid the chaos of the Hughes Fire, progress has been made on the twin infernos that have ravaged Los Angeles since January 7.
The Eaton Fire is 91% contained after burning over 14,000 acres, while the Palisades Fire has been contained by 68% despite its larger footprint of 23,000 acres.
The ongoing fires in Los Angeles County have claimed at least 28 lives, destroyed nearly 16,000 structures, and caused extensive economic losses, estimated to surpass $250 billion.