New rapidly spreading fire erupts near Los Angeles, more than 9,000 acres burned

A wildfire in northern LA County, the Hughes Fire, has burned over 9,000 acres, forcing mass evacuations as firefighters battle the uncontained blaze spreading rapidly.

A new wildfire, the Hughes Fire, erupted in northern Los Angeles County on Wednesday, scorching over 9,000 acres within hours. Located near the community of Castaic, northwest of Los Angeles, the fire has prompted mass evacuations, with tens of thousands fleeing and nearby areas warned to prepare for possible evacuation orders.

Initially reported at just 50 acres at 10:53 a.m. local time (18:53 GMT), the fire rapidly expanded to over 9,200 acres by 8:27 p.m. (04:27 GMT Thursday), according to CalFire. With 0% containment, firefighters are battling the flames as they spread into Ventura County.

This follows a series of devastating wildfires in Los Angeles since Jan. 7, including the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire in Altadena. The Palisades Fire claimed 11 lives, while 17 perished in the Eaton Fire. While those fires are now mostly contained, they have caused widespread destruction, displacing thousands of residents.

Copied