CASTAIC, Calif. — The California Highway Patrol urges Castaic and surrounding communities to evacuate because of the Hughes Fire’s rapid spread.
“The CHP always advises to just evacuate,” CHP spokesperson Alec Pereyda told Spectrum News Wednesday afternoon. “It’s not worth it to stay in the fire like you saw in the Eaton and Palisades Fire. It can move very quickly. And we don’t want anyone to get stuck and not get out in a timely manner.”
The CHP initially shut down the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway at Grapevine Road and the northbound 5 in Newhall Ranch Road. But in a press conference, officials said they planned to reopen the lanes later in the evening.
The Hughes Fire, which is Southern California's latest wildfire, broke out at 11 a.m. and quickly burned over 9,400 acres by early evening. The fire is not threatening homes or structures yet.
The CHP closed nearby roads in an abundance of caution.
“This is a fluid situation,” said Pereyda. “CHP is weighing all options as it continues. The reason why we had to close down the freeway in this location is because of all this smoke and hazards that come with that — not being able to see when you’re on the freeway.”
More than 31,000 are under evacuation orders and another 23,000 are under evacuation warnings, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
Closures
The 5 Freeway was closed in both directions between Grapevine Road on the north and state Route 126 on the south.
Multiple road closures were ordered in the area, including:
- Ridge Route Road at Lake Hughes;
- Ridge Route Road at Templin Highway;
- Lake Hughes at Pine Canyon; and
- Dry Gulch at San Francisquito Canyon Road.
School closures
- Northlake Hills Elementary School just west of Castaic Lake
- Castaic Middle and Elementary school
- Castaic High School
- Both campuses of the College of the Canyons
The Castaic Union School District announced on Wednesday evening that it will close all of its schools on Thursday due to the wildfire.
