New fire erupts in San Diego County near US-Mexico border as crews battle Hughes Fire in Castaic

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Last updated: Friday, January 24, 2025 12:33AM GMT
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LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- As fire danger continues in Southern California, firefighters are batting a new brush fire that erupted in San Diego County near the U.S.-Mexico border, as they also race to contain the Hughes Fire near Castaic Lake.

The Border Fire 2 is burning near the Otay Mountain Truck Trail located within the Otay Mountain Wilderness area. The fire erupted at around 2:30 p.m. and quickly grew in acreage.

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

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
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.
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2 hours and 26 minutes ago

Brush fire erupts along NB 405 in Seal Beach, shuts lanes

A brush fire erupted Thursday afternoon along the northbound lanes of the 405 Freeway in Seal Beach, promoting officials to shut down multiple lanes.

The blaze was reported around 1:20 p.m. near northbound 405 and northbound 605 freeways, the Orange County Fire Authority said. CHP shut down the transition road from the 405 to the 605 - going both directions.

According to the battalion chief, all northbound lanes were closed in the area, though lanes appeared to have since reopened to traffic.

OCFA said the fire was kept at 1 acre, did not threaten any structure and did not result in any injuries.

Carlos Granda Image
1 hour and 53 minutes ago

Residential areas east of 5 Fwy remains closed off due to Hughes Fire

Many were seen waiting in long lines of cars, hoping to be let back into their neighborhoods, with many waiting for hours for any new information

Meantime, crews were seen trying to clear power poles that were damaged by the Hughes Fire and toppled onto roadways, making for a very dangerous situation.

As of 5 p.m., the Hughes Fire had burned 10,176 acres and was 24% contained, according to CAL FIRE.

Residents in the Castaic area were still being kept out of zones evacuated due to the Hughes Fire as of midday Thursday.
Sid Garcia Image
Jan 23, 2025, 8:11 PM GMT

Forward progress stopped for Laguna Fire

Crews have stopped the forward progress of the Laguna Fire after it burned approximately 50 acres in Ventura County near Camarillo.

The flames were stopped in their tracks by some "aggressive firefighting" on the ground and in the air, public information officer Andrew Dowd told Eyewitness News.

Crews have stopped the forward progress of the Laguna Fire after it burned approximately 50 acres in Ventura County near Camarillo.

The fire broke out amid strong winds and single-digit humidity levels across the region.

"Having all these resources available and ready to respond within minutes of this fire breaking out made a huge difference in our ability to bring this under control," Dowd added.

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Jan 23, 2025, 6:07 PM GMT

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.