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

Thousands of residents in the Castaic area were forced to flee their homes as the Hughes Fire quickly grew in size Wednesday, and some said the recent destruction left by the Palisades and Eaton fires gave them a sense of urgency.

"The urgency is definitely there. You think you're ready, but you're never ready. You're never really ready to go," said resident David Monroe. "... It hits you fast."

Among the items he paced: family mementos, pictures and his two dogs. His wife was unable to get past the road closures and to the house to help.

Thousands of residents in the Castaic area were forced to flee their homes as the Hughes Fire quickly grew in size Wednesday, and some said the recent destruction left by the Palisades and Eaton fires gave them a sense of urgency.

Still, he waited back a bit to see how the situation developed.

"If I see embers, I'm gone... We've done this before. We've been evacuated before... I'll be ready to go."

The Hughes Fire has burned at least 5,0054 acres.

A family in Castaic grabbed a hose and wetted down their car and property as they prepared to flee their home amid the Hughes Fire.

Their relative recently lost his home in the Eaton Fire, as did some of their friends who live in the Pacific Palisades to the Palisades Fire.

In their neighborhood, located near Pine Crest Place and Ridge Rte. Drive, deputies were going door to door to urge residents to evacuate.

The family was understandably anxious, as their relative recently lost his home in the Eaton Fire.

The Hughes Fire is currently burning over 30 acres a minute, which is the length of 23 football fields each minute, according to our ABC data team.

The brush fire, which erupted around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, has burned over 5,000 acres in the Castaic area in north Los Angeles County.

An estimated 19,000 people live in the mandatory evacuation zones, while another 16,000 people live in the Hughes Fire evacuation warning zones.

That's a total of 35,000 people in mandatory or warning evacuation zones.

The Hughes Fire is rapidly spreading in the Castaic area in northern Los Angeles County.

Several schools in near Castaic were forced to evacuate and close Wednesday due to the Hughes Fire burning in the area.

The brush fire is ignited around 11 a.m. at Lake Hughes Road.

Northlake Hills Elementary School has been evacuated. Students were taken to the Aquatic Center at 31350 Castaic Road.

Castaic Elementary and Castaic Middle schools were evacuated. The students were taken to the Ralph's Market parking lot at 29675 the Old Road.

Castaic High School was evacuated.

All schools within the Castaic Union School District will be closed on Thursday, according to the district, which sent a message to staff and families Wednesday afternoon. District officials said its Educational Services Department will be sharing optional learning opportunities for your students during the closure.

Trinity Classical Academy in Valencia will also be closed on Thursday due to the fire.

The College of the Canyons closed for the day out of an abundance of caution.

Tesoro del Valle Elementary and West Creek Academy parents asked to pick up their children and all child care has been canceled for the rest of the day out of an abundance of caution due to the fire.