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

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Last updated: Thursday, January 23, 2025 10:06PM 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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Jan 22, 2025, 10:59 PM GMT

476 inmates evacuated from Pitchess Detention Center due to fire

Hundreds of inmates were evacuated from the Pitchess Detention Center due to the Hughes Fire on Wednesday.

The facility is located along The Old Road in Castaic.

Sheriff's officials said 476 inmates were evacuated to North County Correctional Facility for safety.

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Jan 22, 2025, 11:21 PM GMT

5 Freeway shut down at 126 due to rapidly spreading flames

The 5 Freeway is shut down through the Grapevinejust north of State Route 126 due to the rapidly spreading flames from the Hughes Fire.

Lanes will be closed for an unknown duration.

You can useQuickMapor Google Maps to find alternate routes.

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Jan 22, 2025, 10:13 PM GMT

Evacuation orders extended into Ventura County

Evacuation orders have been extended into Ventura County, reaching the Lake Piru area west of Castaic.

Leo Stallworth Image
Jan 22, 2025, 9:48 PM GMT

Santa Clarita Movie Ranch stops production due to fire

A man who oversees multiple movie studios in the Santa Clarita Valley was forced to stop production Wednesday due to the Hughes Fire.

Daniel Veluzat with Santa Clarita Movie Ranch said at least one of his studios was forced to evacuate.

"We just pulled the plug on any production today," he said. "It's just not worth the risk. With these high winds, and the way that these embers fly like missiles, we can't take the chance. Those that don't understand how these fires work, somebody has to make that call and say, 'We've got to get to safety.'"

Daniel Veluzat with Santa Clarita Movie Ranch said at least one of his studios was forced to evacuate.