Hughes Fire breaks out near Castaic Lake as strong winds, dry conditions linger across SoCal

The moment the Hughes Fire erupted near Castaic Lake was captured on camera.

Video recorded Wednesday from a U.C. San Diego camera captured the moment the rapidly growing blaze began.

Footage from a U.C. San Diego camera captured the moment the rapidly growing Hughes Fire erupted near Castaic Lake.

The fire triggered mandatory evacuations in the region.

A brush fire erupted amid powerful winds Wednesday afternoon in the Castaic area, spreading quickly to more than 3,400 acres near the 5 Freeway, officials said.

Fire crews from Los Angeles County and the Angeles National Forest were responding to the so-called Hughes Fire burning in the area of Lake Hughes Road.

A brush fire erupted amid powerful winds Wednesday afternoon in the Castaic area, spreading quickly to more than 500 acres near the 5 Freeway, officials said.

Evacuation orders and warnings were issued shortly after 11 a.m. according to an official map on Genasys.com.

No injuries were reported and no structures are being immediately threatened.

The cause of the fire was unknown.

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-CAMBRIDGE
CAS-CASTAICLAKE
CAS-CHARLIECANYON
CAS-GOLDENSTATE
CAS-GREENHILL
CAS-HASLEY
CAS-HILLCREST
CAS-PARADISERANCH
CAS-RIDGE
CAS-ROMERO
CAS-SLOAN
LAC-E008

Evacuation warnings were issued for the following zones:

CAS-BISCAILUZ
CAS-INDUSTRY
CAS-LIVEOAK
CAS-OAKCANYON
CAS-VALVERDE
GOR-E004
GOR-HUNGRYVALLEY
LAC-E005
LAC-E009-B
LAC-E011-A
LAC-E011-B
LAC-E016
LAC-E029
LAC-FRANCISQUITO
SCL-KELLYJOHNSON
SCL-TESORODELVALLE
SLC-REYESABODE
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: Valencia High School - 27801 Dickson Dr, Valencia, CA 91355

Mandatory evacuations were issued Wednesday in the Castaic area due to the fast-spreading Hughes Fire. CAL FIRE's map shows the evac zones.

For a few hours overnight, Southern California was not under a red flag warning, but another warning has been issued - which means the critical fire danger isn't over. This comes as the region urgently prepares for rain this weekend, triggering landslide fears in fire-damaged communities.

Light to moderate Santa Ana winds will continue through Wednesday afternoon across Ventura and Los Angeles counties, according to the National Weather Service. There will be another increase in northeast winds Wednesday night into Thursday.

The extended warning, which applies for a large swath of Southern California, is in effect through 8 p.m. Thursday. Temperatures will also warm up Thursday.

For a few hours overnight, Southern California was not under a red flag warning, but another warning has been issued - which means the critical fire danger isn't over.

Temperatures during the weekend will see a big drop as some moisture from the north moves into SoCal, bringing a chance of light rain and raising the threat of mudslides in fire-impacted areas.

In light of the fire danger and looming threat of mudslides, officials are urging residents to have an evacuation plan in place.