Explosive new fire erupts near Los Angeles, spreading rapidly and forcing thousands to flee

Four thousand firefighters are battling a massive new blaze that’s broken out north of Los Angeles, doubling in size in just a few hours and forcing 31,000 people to flee.

Four thousand firefighters have been deployed to battle a monster new blaze that broke out north of Los Angeles on Wednesday morning and doubled in size in just a few hours.

The community of Castaic, in the northwest of LA, is being threatened by the rapidly spreading Hughes fire, which was ignited about 11am, and the nearby city of Santa Clarita is also on high alert.

Authorities ordered evacuations shortly after. Within two hours, some 5000 acres (2000 hectares) were ablaze, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported.

By late afternoon, that figure had surged to almost 8100 acres (3277 hectares).

MORE: Celeb homes destroyed in LA fires revealed

Some 31,000 residents have been ordered to flee their homes, and another 26,000 are on alert to evacuate, as strong winds intensified to 42 miles (67 kilometres) per hour.

Emergency response as winds intensify

Meteorologists fear those strong Santa Ana gusts could reach 60 miles (95 kilometres) per hour.

“We’re going to see another round of critical fire conditions across Southern California,” Todd Hall, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said.

“At this point, it sounds like a broken record.”

A firefighter sprays water as he monitors flames caused by the Hughes Fire along a roadside in Castaic. Picture: AP

A firefighting helicopter drops water over the Hughes fire in Castaic. Picture: AFP

Multiple helicopters worked throughout to day, dropping water onto the flames from above in an effort to slow the spread. Planes were also used to drop retardant and water, including two Super Scoopers, which are huge amphibious aircraft that can carry hundreds of litres of water.

Multiple road closures were put in effect, sparking confusion among those who were racing from the area in their vehicles.

One local told KTLA-TV he was determined to stay as long as possible in a bid to protect his home, spraying down his roof with a garden house as flying embers rained down.

Another resident told the news outlet: “I’m just praying our house doesn’t burn down.”

Emergency vehicles are on the side of the road as flames from the Hughes Fire race up the hill in Castaic, a northwestern neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Picture: AFP

Los Angeles City Firefighters use Six Flags Magic Mountain as a base of operations. Picture: Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Brandon Bell/ Getty Images via AFP

‘Please get out’

TV news footage shows police driving through neighbourhoods and issuing warnings over loud speakers for people to flee.

Robert Jensen from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the unfolding situation was critical.

“We’ve seen the devastation caused by people failing to follow those orders in the Palisades and Eaton fires,” Mr Jensen said.

“I don’t want to see that here in our community as well. If you’ve been issued an evacuation order, please get out.”

The Hughes Fire burns behind the skyline of Six Flags Magic Mountain. Picture: Brandon Bell / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

A man who got out of the fire zone gets water as the plume of smoke from the Hughes fire fills the sky in Castaic. Picture: AFP

Castaic is about 35 miles (56 kilometres) north of Los Angeles and close to the city of Santa Clarita.

Blaze bearing down on city

By late afternoon, the uncontrollable Hughes fire had reached the northern part of Santa Clarita, sparking panic among authorities.

The city’s mayor Bill Miranda told The New York Times that he isn’t aware of any damage to buildings yet.

“Most of what’s burning right now is brush,” Mr Miranda told the newspaper.

“Winds have a way of going the way they want to go. It’s very possible that one direction becomes another direction very easily, and all of a sudden it heads right into our city.”

Firefighters works to contain the Hughes Fire as it draws nearer to a neighbourhood. Picture: AFP

Massive prison in fire’s path

The fire is currently about five miles (eight kilometres) north of the Castaic prison, but authorities are yet to evacuate inmates.

Should that change, prison management faces a difficult task.

“It’s unclear how jail officials would carry out an evacuation, if one becomes necessary,” The Los Angeles Times reported.

“For years, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has struggled with a shortage of inmate transport buses, due to an ageing fleet that has become increasingly difficult to repair.

“By late last year, officials told The Times that only 20 of the department’s 82 buses were operational.

“On Wednesday, a department spokeswoman said that jail officials could potentially use state and other local resources, but it was not immediately clear what resources that would entail.”

A plume of smoke from the new Hughes fire is seen above the hills from the Magic Mountain exit of Interstate 5 freeway in Valencia, California. Picture: AFP

The region had been subject to ‘red flag’ warnings – a high alert designation – prior to the blaze breaking out. It’s not clear what sparked this new fire.

‘Driving into hell’

A woman who fled her home quickly found herself stuck on Interstate 5, which has been shut off in sections due to its proximity to the fire.

“It looked like a cloud, but as you got close, it looked like we were driving into hell,” she told NBC 4 of the scene. “It was pretty terrifying to be honest with you.”

She spoke of feeling fearful of what the coming hours hold, having watched the horrifying scenes of recent weeks.

“I don’t know why they keep popping up,” she said. “It’s definitely a scary time in this area.”

Flames from the Hughes Fire burn a hillside in Castaic, a northwestern part of Los Angeles County, California, on January 22, 2025. A new wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles on January 22, exploding in size and sparking thousands of evacuation orders in a region already staggering from the effects of huge blazes. Ferocious flames were devouring hillsides near Castaic Lake, spreading rapidly to cover 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) in just over two hours. The fire was being fanned by strong, dry Santa Ana winds that were racing through the area, pushing a vast pall of smoke and embers ahead of the flames. Evacuations were ordered for 19,000 people all around the lake, which sits around 35 miles north of Los Angeles, and close to the city of Santa Clarita. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

Trump to visit devastated LA

The new fire is crushing news for the Los Angeles community, still reeling from ferocious fires that killed more than two dozen people and razed thousands of structures.

The Palisades fire, which was sparked a fortnight ago and has devastated the Pacific Palisades community, is still burning and just 68 per cent contained.

President Donald Trump has announced he was travel to Los Angeles on Friday to inspect the devastation and monitor recovery efforts.

A plume of smoke from the new Hughes fire is seen behind the California State Route 14 highway from Santa Clarita. Picture: AFP

The brush fire is prompting mandatory evacuations just over two weeks after the Eaton and Palisades Fires caused massive destruction across Los Angeles. Picture: AFP

Rain a double-edged sword

A storm is forecast to hit Los Angeles in coming days, bringing with it “a very beneficial wetting rain”, but “it will not end the fire season,” National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Tardy told the Times.

While rain is welcome, it brings with it plenty of risks and Los Angeles officials have begun to prepare.

Barriers will be installed and as much debris removed as possible to avoid any wash-off of hazardous materials.

In January 2018, debris flows killed 23 people and destroyed 130 homes when a river of rock and mud washed through Montecito in the wake of a fire.

“Recently burned areas are at risk of landslides when subjected to intense rain over a short amount of time,” The Times report added.

“Hillsides are vulnerable to landslides after wildfires because the fires make the soils repellent to water, and instead of being absorbed, rain flows downhill and picks up rocks and debris.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said the city must be prepared for the scenario.

“Rains are in the forecast and the threat of mud and debris flow in our fire impacted communities is real,” Ms Barger said at a news conference Wednesday local time.