New brush fire breaks out along 405 in Seal Beach as crews battle Hughes Fire in Castaic

KABC logo
Last updated: Thursday, January 23, 2025 10:39PM GMT
ABC7 Eyewitness News
Stream Southern California's News Leader and Original Shows 24/7

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- As fire danger continues in Southern California, firefighters are batting a new brush fire that erupted along the 405 Freeway in Seal Beach, as they also race to contain the Hughes Fire near Castaic Lake.

The latest blaze started around 1 p.m. Thursday near the transition from the northbound 405 Freeway to the northbound 605 Freeway. CHP shut down the transition road from the 405 to the 605 - going both directions. All northbound 405 lanes were expected to be closed in the area.

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

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, 8:31 PM GMT

Start of Hughes Fire captured on camera

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.

KABC logo
Jan 22, 2025, 9:40 PM GMT

Brush fire erupts in Castaic area, spreads to more than 3,400 acres and prompts evacuations

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.

KABC logo
3 hours and 15 minutes ago

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.
Jaysha Patel Image
Jan 22, 2025, 7:10 PM GMT

Red flag warning extended through 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. 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.