
Hughes Fire Update: Critical Developments and Public Safety Information
The Hughes Fire, located along Lake Hughes Road north of Castaic Reservoir in Castaic, continues to rage across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, rapidly expanding to 5,054 acres with 0% containment. The fire remains active, posing significant challenges for firefighters and prompting widespread evacuations and road closures. Below is the latest information regarding the fire’s status, evacuation orders, road closures, and community resources.
Current Fire Status
• Acreage: 5,054 acres
• Containment: 0%
• Activity: The fire has jumped Lake Hughes Road, with 50–70 acres burning south of Dry Gulch Road. It has also spread to the south side of the Castaic Lake Dam near the Main Boat Launch and is now impacting the Lake Hills Community Church and the Canyon Crosswinds Model Aviation Club.
Evacuation Information
Mandatory Evacuations:
• Los Angeles County Zones:
• LAC-E029, SCL-REYESADOBE, LAC-FRANCISQUITO, SCL-TESORODELVALLE, SCL-STERLING, CAS-BISCAILUZ, SCL-KELLYJOHNSON
• Ventura County Zones:
• VNC Zone 1 (East Side of the Lake Piru area)
Evacuation Warnings:
• Ventura County VNC Zone 2 (east of Camulos to the LA County border, north of Hwy 126 to Lake Piru)
• Los Angeles County Zones:
• LAC-E018, LAC-E030, SCL-PACIFICCREST, SCL-BLACKPINE, SCL-MOUNTAINVIEW, SCL-CALEX, SCL-RANCHOTESORO, SCL-WESTHILLS, SCL-RIONORTE, SCL-DECORO, SCL-RYE
Evacuation zones can be viewed via the LA County Genasys Evacuation Map and Ventura County Evacuation Map.
Evacuation Shelters
• Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP):
• Hart High School, 24825 Newhall Ave, Santa Clarita, CA 91321 (relocated from Valencia High School).
• Animal Evacuation Shelters:
• Large Animals: Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
• Small Animals:
• Lancaster Animal Care Center, 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster
• Palmdale Animal Care Center, 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale
Road Closures
The I-5 Freeway remains fully closed between State Route 126 (northbound) and Grapevine Road (southbound). Heavy smoke is impacting visibility in surrounding areas. Detours include State Route 126 and State Route 14. Other closures include:
• Ridge Route Rd at Lake Hughes
• Ridge Route Rd at Templin Hwy
• Lake Hughes at Pine Canyon
• Dry Gulch at San Francisquito Canyon Rd
Firefighting Efforts
Firefighters are utilizing all available resources, including:
• Air Support: Eight National Guard Modular Airborne FireFighting Systems (MAFFS) air tankers and two Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs).
• Ground Crews: Units from multiple agencies, with efforts focused on containment along the northeast side of Castaic Lake.
Community Resources
• Press Conference:
• A public briefing will be held today at 5:00 p.m. at College of the Canyons, lower parking lot 14 (26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91355).
• School Evacuations:
• Castaic Middle and Elementary students have been relocated to Ralph’s parking lot at Hasley Canyon.
• North Lake Elementary students are at the Castaic Sports Complex.
• College Closures:
• College of the Canyons has suspended on-campus classes. Updates will be provided via email, text, and the college website.
Safety Reminders
• Stay Informed: Monitor official evacuation maps and updates from LA and Ventura Counties.
• Road Safety: Avoid travel in affected areas. Use caution when driving near heavy smoke.
• Emergency Alerts: Sign up for alerts through your local government to receive real-time updates.
For the latest updates and detailed evacuation zone maps, visit the Watch Duty map.
Video and Visual Updates
• Live footage of the fire from the SoCal Quick Reaction Force is available on YouTube, offering insight into firefighting efforts and fire progression:
This situation is evolving rapidly. Stay vigilant, follow evacuation orders, and prioritize safety above all else.
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