North LA Hughes Fire Rapidly Decimates More Than 10,000 Acres, More Than 30,000 Forced to Evacuate

A fast-moving wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles Wednesday morning, scorching more than 10,000 acres near Castaic Lake and forcing tens of thousands to flee.

By nightfall, officials confirmed that the Hughes blaze had reached an estimated 10,176 acres, with containment hovering at just 14%. The inferno, stoked by ferocious Santa Ana winds and bone-dry vegetation, marks the largest and fastest wildfire in Southern California since the historic Eaton and Palisades fires in early January.

"The situation remains dynamic, and the fire remains a difficult fire to contain, although we are getting the upper hand," said Anthony Marrone, chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, during a Wednesday night briefing.

As of now, mandatory evacuation orders have displaced more than 31,000 people, while an additional 23,000 remain under warnings.

Major highways, including all northbound lanes of Interstate 5 near State Route 126, were shut down due to heavy smoke and ash plumes, leaving drivers stranded and emergency teams scrambling to manage the chaos.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of worsening conditions as high-speed winds, gusting up to 70 mph, are expected to escalate overnight. "New or existing fires may grow rapidly with extreme fire behavior," the NWS cautioned on its website.

Adding to the concern, UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain noted that Southern California is facing a "potentially record warm, dry, and windy" spell ahead of forecasted rain this weekend. "That's one reason why the current fire is a major concern," Swain explained during a Wednesday video.

Southern California has faced relentless wildfire activity this season. Crews battling the Hughes Fire are also contending with the deadly Palisades and Eaton blazes, which together have scorched tens of thousands of acres in recent weeks.

Yet, even amid dire circumstances, progress is being made. The Palisades Fire, burning across 23,448 acres, is now 70% contained, as the Eaton Fire nears full containment at 95%.

While firefighters gain some control, residents remain on edge as the Hughes Fire shows no signs of slowing. Authorities are urging vigilance, with further evacuation orders and warnings likely in the coming days.

Temporary shelters have been established, and air quality warnings have been issued for surrounding areas; meanwhile, some residents have expressed frustration over the limited media coverage of the Hughes Fire.