A large and rapidly spreading wildfire has erupted in the Rocky Mountains north of Los Angeles, putting over 50,000 inhabitants in Southern California under evacuation orders or warnings. Strong winds spurred the Hughes Fire’s growth, which began Wednesday morning and quickly spread over dry vegetation, releasing heavy smoke plumes over the area.
About 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the areas already damaged by the Eaton and Palisades fires, the fire started close to Lake Castaic, a well-liked recreational area. More than 31,000 people had to be evacuated as the Hughes Fire burned more than 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) of woodland and brush in a matter of hours.
LA County Sheriff Robert G. Luna said another 23,000 people are still under evacuation warnings. Authorities are fighting to keep the fire under control.
According to LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, while some progress is being made, the fire has proven difficult to manage. According to Marrone, “Firefighters are getting the upper hand.”
The Hughes Fire spread across hilltops and sank into forested canyons, closing a 30-mile section of Interstate 5, one of California’s vital north-south highways. With the help of water-dropping aircraft, ground-based fire crews hurried to stop the fire from spreading across the freeway and endangering neighboring communities.
Forecasters warned that winds might reach 60 mph (96 kph) by late Wednesday and early Thursday. In the afternoon, local winds were gusting as high as 42 mph (67 kph). On social media site, the National Weather Service shared updates, warning that hazardous circumstances would continue for a few days.
