Watch: More Than 30,000 Evacuated As New ‘Hellish’ Fire Erupts North Of Los Angeles
A wildfire described as “hellish” by witnesses has forced over 30,000 people to evacuate their homes north of Los Angeles.
Dubbed the Hughes Fire, the blaze broke out on Wednesday morning near Lake Castaic, rapidly spreading across 10,000 acres (41 square km) within hours.
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Officials have warned of an “immediate threat to life”, urging residents to leave as planes and helicopters work to contain the fire.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported that the fire is only 14% contained, while an additional 25,000 people remain in zones facing evacuation warnings.
Helicopters have been seen scooping water from Lake Castaic, dropping it on the flames to prevent the fire from advancing toward Interstate 5, where a 30-mile stretch of the major highway has already been shut down.
One witness, describing the scene, said, “It looked like you were driving into hell… red fire was coming up from below. It was terrifying.”
This latest wildfire comes as California reels from a relentless month of wildfires, including the Eaton and Palisades fires that devastated parts of LA earlier this month.
Footage via @the_raven28 on X
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