New brush fire breaks out in Ventura County as firefighters battle Sepulveda, Hughes fires

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Last updated: Thursday, January 23, 2025 8:11PM GMT
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LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- As fire danger continues in Southern California, firefighters battled several new brush fires - the Laguna Fire in Ventura County, the Hughes Fire near Castaic Lake and the Sepulveda Fire in Bel Air, along the 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass.

The latest blaze is the Laguna Fire, which started around 9 a.m. Thursday morning. The Hughes Fire erupted around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and forced thousands of residents to evacuate. The Sepulveda Fire started late Wednesday and prompted an evacuation warning.

Red-flag warnings for critical fire risk were extended through Friday morning across L.A. and Ventura counties.

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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.
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2 hours and 45 minutes ago

New brush fire breaks out in Ventura County

A new brush fire broke out Thursday morning in the Oxnard Plains area of Ventura County, burning at least two acres.

A new brush fire broke out Thursday morning in the Oxnard Plains area of Ventura County, burning at least two acres.

Fire officials said the fire, reported around 9 a.m. off Hueneme and Laguna roads, was in medium brush with a rapid rate of spread.

The California State University, Channel Islands campus was ordered to evacuate.

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4:38 PM GMT

Some PUSD schools reopen after closure prompted by Eaton Fire

After a two-week closure prompted by the Eaton Fire, 10 campuses and programs in the Pasadena Unified School District are set to reopen on Thursday.

The district includes Pasadena, Sierra Madre and Altadena.

After a two-week closure prompted by the Eaton Fire, 10 campuses and programs in the Pasadena Unified School District are set to reopen.

The following 10 schools and programs are scheduled to re-open on Thursday:

-- Hamilton Elementary;
-- Willard Elementary & Children's Center;
-- Blair Middle and High School;
-- San Rafael Elementary;
-- McKinley School;
-- Rose City High School;
-- Center for Independent Study;
-- Pasadena Adult Living Skills;
-- Twilight Adult School;
-- Aveson Global Leadership Academy.

The district closed its campuses on Jan. 8 as the Eaton Fire was raging. The phased reopening comes after extensive cleaning, sanitizing, and environmental testing, with all students back in the remaining schools by Jan. 30, officials said.

The district serves approximately 14,000 students across 24 schools, and at five children's centers and adult education programs.

10:06 AM GMT

Crews stop forward progress of 40-acre brush fire in Sepulveda Pass

Forward progress on the 40-acre brush fire in the Sepulveda Pass has been stopped and the evacuation warning has been lifted, according to the LAFD.

No structures have been damaged and no injuries were reported, the fire department said.

"Firefighters will remain on scene through the night conducting mop up operations to ensure no hot spots remain," LAFD said.

In an earlier update, LAFD said aerial and ground crews made "good progress" against the Sepulveda Fire.

About 250 firefighters battled the blaze.

"Traffic on the 405 Freeway will likely remain impacted as crews and apparatus work alongside the freeway," LAFD said.

Firefighters launched an aggressive aerial attack on a brush fire in the Sepulveda Pass.
9:40 AM GMT

Evacuation warning issued for fire in Sepulveda Pass

An evacuation warning has been issued for the Sepulveda Fire burning along the 405 Freeway.

The evacuation warning was issued for residents south of the 1500 block of Casiano Road, north of Moraga Drive, east of Sepulveda Boulevard and west of Chalon Road, according to the LAFD.

The southbound 405 has been shut down as well. So far, the blaze has grown to 10 acres.