A firefighter truck backs up from flames of smoke from the new Hughes Fire at the Lake Hughes Road in Castaic, a northwestern neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 22, 2025. A new wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles on January 22, exploding in size and sparking thousands of evacuation orders in a region already staggering from the effects of huge blazes. Ferocious flames were devouring hillsides near Castaic Lake, spreading rapidly to cover 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) in just over two hours. The fire was being fanned by strong, dry Santa Ana winds that were racing through the area, pushing a vast pall of smoke and embers ahead of the flames. Evacuations were ordered for 19,000 people all around the lake, which sits around 35 miles north of Los Angeles, and close to the city of Santa Clarita. (Photo by Apu GOMES / Agence France-Presse)

LOS ANGELES, United States — A new wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles on Wednesday, exploding in size and sparking thousands of evacuation orders in a region already staggering from the effects of huge blazes.

Ferocious flames were devouring hillsides near Castaic Lake, spreading rapidly to cover 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) in just over two hours.

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The fire was being fanned by strong, dry Santa Ana winds that were racing through the area, pushing a vast pall of smoke and embers ahead of the flames.

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Evacuations were ordered for 19,000 people all around the lake, which sits around 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of Los Angeles, and close to the city of Santa Clarita.

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“I’m just praying that our house doesn’t burn down,” one man told broadcaster KTLA as he packed his car.

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The fire came with the greater Los Angeles area still suffering after two enormous fires that killed more than two dozen people and destroyed thousands of structures.

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READ: Fire risk, strong winds continue in Southern California

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Robert Jensen from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department urged everyone in the impacted area of the new blaze – dubbed the Hughes Fire – to leave immediately.

“We’ve seen the devastation caused by people failing to follow those orders in the Palisades and Eaton fires,” he said.

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“I don’t want to see that here in our community as well. If you’ve been issued an evacuation order, please get out.”

Television footage showed police driving around the neighborhood urging people to get out.

Emergency vehicles are on the side of the road as flames from the Hughes Fire race up the hill in Castaic, a northwestern neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 22, 2025. A new wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles on January 22, exploding in size and sparking thousands of evacuation orders in a region already staggering from the effects of huge blazes. Ferocious flames were devouring hillsides near Castaic Lake, spreading rapidly to cover 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) in just over two hours. The fire was being fanned by strong, dry Santa Ana winds that were racing through the area, pushing a vast pall of smoke and embers ahead of the flames. Evacuations were ordered for 19,000 people all around the lake, which sits around 35 miles north of Los Angeles, and close to the city of Santa Clarita. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / Agence France-Presse)

There are four county jails in the Lake Castaic area, housing 4,700 people, the American Civil Liberties Union said.

“We have long opposed the expansion of the jail system especially in dangerous fire zones and we are gravely concerned for the safety of people incarcerated in those jails,” said Melissa Camacho, senior staff attorney with the ACLU SoCal.

“We urge our county supervisors to direct the LA Sheriff’s Department to immediately organize the transportation needed to evacuate the jails without delay.”

READ: Fast-moving wildfire forces evacuations in northern Los Angeles

California Highway Patrol said the fire was impacting traffic on the I5, a major artery that runs the length of the US West Coast.

Helicopters and planes were on the scene dropping water and retardant on the blaze.

That fleet included two Super Scoopers, enormous amphibious planes that can carry hundreds of gallons (liters) of water.

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Crews from Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest were also attacking the blaze from the ground.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the fire, but it occurred during red flag fire conditions – when meteorologists say strong winds and low humidity create conditions ripe for rapid fire spread.

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Smoke was visible southwest of the fire as far away as Thousand Oaks and west as far as Ventura on the Pacific Coast.fb777

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