The Hughes Fire, a fast-moving wildfire north of Los Angeles, has consumed nearly 10,000 acres since it broke out on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of more than 30,000 residents. With especially dangerous conditions due to high winds and dry weather, the fire rapidly spread from 50 acres to over 10,000 acres in a matter of hours.
It threatened areas near Castaic, resulting in evacuation orders and warnings affecting over 50,000 people in total. Around 4,000 firefighters are responding under challenging conditions, and while no structures have been damaged, the fire remains at 0% containment. Authorities have also evacuated a nearby facility holding 476 inmates.
Predictions indicate the fire behavior could worsen, with potential relief from rain anticipated over the weekend, which could also bring risks of mudslides and flooding. Public officials have warned residents to avoid impacted areas to facilitate emergency responses.
