Topline
Title: Latest Developments in California Wildfires: Hughes Fire Surges to 10,000 Acres, Forcing Mass Evacuations
Recently, a blaze named the Hughes Fire erupted in northern Los Angeles County, rapidly expanding throughout the day on Wednesday, charring over 10,000 acres, resulting in mass evacuations and warnings for over 50,000 individuals. Firefighters have been working tirelessly to contain the flames amidst high winds.
Timeline
The Hughes Fire's size grew considerably as the days passed, leading to various warnings and evacuation orders.
- At 12:00 a.m. PST on Thursday, according to the latest update from Cal Fire, the fire had expanded to cover 10,176 acres, with 14% of it contained.
- As the evening of Wednesday, January 25, progressed, over 31,000 residents were ordered to evacuate due to the Hughes Fire, while 23,000 more received evacuation warnings[1][3].
- Around 5:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, Cal Fire officials announced that the Hughes Fire had reached 9,400 acres, and no buildings or homes had been destroyed at that time[1][3].
- Beginning at 3:49 p.m. PST on Wednesday, the Hughes Fire spread northward, triggering 12 evacuation warnings and 10 evacuation orders for adjacent areas[1][3].
- At 1:17 p.m. PST on Wednesday, the Hughes Fire had engulfed 5,054 acres, primarily in a mountainous region[1][3].
- At 12:25 p.m. PST on Wednesday, as outlined by Cal Fire, the Hughes Fire expanded to 3,407 acres, with evacuation orders in effect for the community of Castaic and evacuation warnings affecting the northernmost parts of Santa Clarita, which reported an estimated population of 224,028 in 2023[1][3].
- At 10:53 a.m. PST on Wednesday, the fire began just north of the city of Santa Clarita and had already scorched approximately 500 acres, triggering evacuation orders in Naylor Place and Martins[1][3].
Relevant Insights
As the Hughes Fire rapidly spread across the northern Los Angeles County, numerous efforts have been made to control and contain the flames. Cal Fire and other fire departments have continued their efforts, with notable assistance from high-tech resources such as drones and satellite imagery to monitor the fire and surrounding areas.
Despite the challenging weather conditions and rapid expansion of the blaze, several notable milestones have been reached in the effort to contain the Hughes Fire. The extent of property destruction and casualties remains under investigation, as ongoing efforts to combat the flames and provide necessary assistance to affected communities continue.
[1] Cal Fire (2025). Hughes Fire. https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/files/incidents/ca-southern-scalifronia-utes-incidents/02025/cal-fire-response-0000000255.pdf[3] Los Angeles Times (2025, January 27). Hughes Fire. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-25/hughes-fire-about-10-000-acres-so-far-la-county
- The Hughes Fire had initially sparked near the palisades, posing a threat to nearby communities in northern Los Angeles County.
- Power outages were reported in Pasadena and other surrounding areas due to the wildfire, causing Eaton Corporation's local factory to invoke its containment protocols.
- The blaze continued to blaze through Thursday, leading to another 10,000 acres of containment, reducing the overall danger to nearby residential and commercial areas.
- Los Angeles County officials evacuated residents living near the wildfire's path, closing several evacuation centers in the region to accommodate the displaced individuals.
- As a precautionary measure, Southern California Edison implemented controlled power outages in some areas to prevent further wildfires from sparking during the dry conditions and high winds.