Hughes Fire Spreads to 5,000 Acres, Los Angeles County Orders More Evacuations

A brush fire in Los Angeles County’s Castaic area has spread to over 5,000 acres. A mandatory evacuation order in the surrounding areas is now in place.

The latest blaze to hit the county has been named the Hughes Fire and it is spreading rapidly in the region located northwest of downtown Los Angeles. It first broke out around 11 a.m. on Wednesday but the mix of dry vegetation and strong Santa Ana winds have caused it to pick up quickly. As the blaze continues to grow, residents have been ordered to leave while several roads face closures.

Southern California has been battling a series of large, hard-to-extinguish wildfires. The massive blazes from the Palisades to Eaton killed at least 27 people while destroying thousands of homes and landmarks across the city of Los Angeles. Earlier this week, San Diego County was hit with a series of brush fires that were able to be contained quickly. As the strong winds and dry conditions continue to create more risk for fires, the region is still attempting to recover. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has been pushing for quick cleanup efforts in order to “prevent additional damage in burn areas and to protect our water and ocean from hazardous runoff.”

““I’m directing city crews to swiftly install reinforced concrete barriers, lay down sandbags and clear debris to shore up burn areas and stem the flow of toxins,” Mayor Bass said in a statement. “These communities have already endured unimaginable loss – we are taking action against further harm.”

Communities are finding other ways to pick up the pieces, especially as displaced residents face price gouging in the real estate market and canceled insurance plans. The vast entertainment industry that has made L.A. an artistic hub for the last century has been rallying to raise much-needed funds to provide relief, including a slew of benefit shows and other community organizing efforts.