LOS ANGELES—A fast-moving brush fire raced across thousands of acres of thick vegetation near Castaic Lake Wednesday, forcing mandatory evacuations in the lake area and into the heart of Castaic, with warnings stretching toward Santa Clarita and reaching the Ventura County line.
Castaic is an unincorporated community of around 20,000 people located about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
It’s the first major fire since strong winds helped spark multiple deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area Jan. 7, killing at least 28 people and destroying more than 15,000 structures, including thousands of homes.
The Hughes Fire was reported at about 11 a.m. Wednesday in a remote area east of the lake, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Aided by gusting Santa Ana winds and thick, dry vegetation, the fire quickly gobbled up hundreds of acres of brush, reaching 9,400 acres with zero containment by late afternoon.
The winds and dry terrain led to rampant spotting of the fire, allowing it to jump roadways and continue expanding.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for a wide area enveloping Castaic Lake, including the heart of Castaic. An even wider area fell under evacuation warnings as the fire quickly spread, including an area reaching Lake Piru in Ventura County west of Castaic.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said about 31,000 people were under evacuation orders due to the fire, and 25,000 more were under evacuation warnings.
Luna said the sheriff’s Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic was under an evacuation order, and about 476 inmates were being moved to a neighboring facility, likely the North County Correctional Facility.
Multiple road closures were ordered, including Ridge Route Road at Lake Hughes, Ridge Route Road at Templin Highway; Lake Hughes at Pine Canyon; and Dry Gulch at San Francisquito Canyon Road.
The Golden State (5) Freeway was closed in both directions between Grapevine Road on the north and state Route 126 on the south.
More than a dozen water- and retardant-dropping aircraft were on the scene, including the county’s two leased Super Scooper fixed-wing planes.
Firefighters from the Los Angeles 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 that had been expected to expire Thursday night, but were extended until 10 a.m. Friday. The National Weather Service (NWS) reported winds in the Castaic Lake area ranging from about 12 to as high as 42 mph Wednesday afternoon.
“Northeast winds will be increasing over the next few hours, especially over lower elevations,” NWS officials said about the Hughes Fire area.
Winds were expected to increase again Thursday, peaking in the morning and afternoon hours.
There were no immediate reports of any injuries.
Northlake Hills Elementary School just west of Castaic Lake was evacuated, with students taken to the Castaic Sports Complex. All students from Castaic Middle and Elementary schools were taken to the Ralphs parking lot at Hasley Canyon, where parents were able to retrieve their children. Castaic High School was also evacuated.
A temporary evacuation center for people displaced by the fire was originally established at Valencia High School, but as the fire spread, the center was relocated Wednesday afternoon to Hart High School, 24825 Newhall Ave., Santa Clarita.
Small animals can be taken to the Palmdale Animal Care Center, 38550 Sierra Highway. Small and large animals can be taken to Lancaster Animal Care Center, 5210 W. Avenue I. Large animals can also be taken to Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills.
