Incoming rain brings mudslides threat to burn zones as crews battle Hughes Fire in Castaic

KABC logo
Last updated: Friday, January 24, 2025 8:25PM GMT
ABC7 Eyewitness News
Stream Southern California's News Leader and Original Shows 24/7

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Southern California is making the switch from red flag conditions to rainfall this weekend with showers, mountain snow and a big cool down, prompting concerns over debris flow and mudslides.

Firefighters battled a new brush fire that erupted in San Diego County near the U.S.-Mexico border, as they also raced to contain the Hughes Fire near Castaic Lake.

The Border Fire 2 is burning near the Otay Mountain Truck Trail located within the Otay Mountain Wilderness area and evacuation orders were issued early Friday morning.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
KABC logo
Jan 23, 2025, 7:24 PM

Hughes Fire map shows evacuation zones in Castaic

Mandatory evacuations were issued Wednesday in the Castaic area due to the fast-spreading Hughes Fire.

CAL FIRE's map shows the evacuation zones.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for the following zones, according to CAL FIRE:

CAS-BITTERCANYON
CAS-CASTAICLAKE
CAS-CHARLIECANYON
LAC-E008
LAC-E016.

Evacuation warnings were issued for the following zones:

CAS-BISCAILUZ
CAS-CAMBRIDGE
CAS-GOLDENSTATE
CAS-GREENHILL
CAS-HASLEY
CAS-HILLCREST
CAS-INDUSTRY
CAS-LIVEOAK
CAS-OAKCANYON
CAS-PARADISERANCH
CAS-RIDGE
CAS-ROMERO
CAS-SLOAN
CAS-VALVERDE
GOR-E004
GOR-HUNGRYVALLEY
LAC-E005
LAC-E009-B
LAC-E011-A
LAC-E017
LAC-E018
LAC-E029
LAC-E030
LAC-FRANCISQUITO
SCL-BLACKPINE
SCL-CALEX
SCL-DECORO
SCL-KELLYJOHNSON
SCL-MOUNTAINVIEW
SCL-PACIFICCREST
SCL-RANCHOTESORO
SCL-REYESABODE
SCL-REYESADOBE
SCL-RIONORTE
SCL-RYE
SCL-TESORODELAVALLE
SCL-WESTHILLS
SLC-REYESADOBE
SLC-STERLING

Road closures

- Ridge Route Rd at Lake Hughes
- Ridge Route Rd at Templin Hwy
- Lake Hughes at Pine Cyn
- Dry Gulch at San Francisquito Cyn Rd
- I-5 NB at Parker Rd Off Ramp and I-5 NB at Lake Hughes Rd off ramp will be shut down.

Evacuation shelters
- Evacuation center: College of the Canyons East Gym at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

A map of the Hughes Fire shows the multiple evacuation zones near Castaic Lake north of the Santa Clarita area.
KABC logo
Jan 22, 2025, 7:31 AM GMT

Evacuation warning lifted for Jurupa Valley fire

A brush fire erupted in the riverbed of the Santa Ana River in Jurupa Valley and quickly grew to about 38 acres.

The fire was reported around 5 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Van Buren Boulevard and Clay Street, near the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter, according to CalFire.

CalFire initially said the Clay Fire was at two acres and burning at a slow rate of speed in the river bottom. No evacuation orders were issued, but an evacuation warning was in place for a couple of hours.

CalFire announced around 11 p.m. that the evacuation warning had been lifted, but cautioned that crews were still working in the area. The fire is 40% contained.

Firefighters battled a brush fire in Jurupa Valley that grew to about 38 acres.
Jan 22, 2025, 1:26 AM GMT

Death toll in SoCal wildfires rises to 28

The L.A. County Medical Examiner has attributed an additional death to the Palisades Fire, raising the combined death toll from the Palisades and Eaton fires to 28.

As of Tuesday evening, the medical examiner has tied 17 deaths to the Eaton Fire and 11 to the Palisades Fire.

KABC logo
Jan 21, 2025, 11:06 PM GMT

Schwarzenegger says he's donating $1 million for wildfire relief

Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday announced he's donating $1 million toward wildfire relief efforts in Los Angeles County, and the former California governor unveiled a new "L.A. Strong" T-shirt whose proceeds will also be donated.

In a social media post, Schwarzenegger said the $1 million will be divided between the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the California Fire Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles.

"I don't like when companies or rich people ask their fans to make their donations for them," he wrote.

The T-shirt features an image of Schwarzenegger posing during his bodybuilding days.

"The shirt might look familiar - it's based on an LA classic they sell to tourists on the Venice boardwalk, except I can use my image," he added.

Michelle Fisher Image
Jan 21, 2025, 7:20 PM GMT

La Cañada Flintridge shows gratitude for pre-deployed firefighters

La Cañada Flintridge was one of several communities that was forced to evacuate during the Eaton Fire, and on Monday residents threw a pop-up appreciation party for fighters who were pre-deployed this week ahead of another round of powerful winds.

"I've been doing this since 1997 and I've never seen a show of support like this," Cal Fire Battalion Chief Joshua Rivers told ABC7.

The impromptu event was organized at La Cañada High School, where pizza, ice cream, snacks, and even takeout food from a Porto's Bakery were served in the gymnasium.

Community members showed their gratitude to pre-deployed firefighters by organizing a pop-up appreciation party -- complete with pizza and ice cream -- at La Cañada High School.

"The whole city -- everybody's trying to help," said Cynthia Xue, one of the residents who donated food.