A fast-moving wildfire in northern Los Angeles County exploded mid-morning Wednesday, quickly growing from 50 acres to more than 5,000 acres in heavy brush near Castaic Lake. The fire has now closed all lanes of the busy Interstate 5 corridor in the Santa Clarita Valley,
Interstate 5 has been closed down temporarily because of the Hughes Fire. Authorities hurried to the site in Los Angeles and tried to control the fire.
Red flag fire warnings remain in place for Los Angeles County and much of Southern California. Inmates at the Pitchess Detention Center, in Castaic south of the fire, are being moved out of the jail in a partial evacuation, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed to ABC News.
The Hughes Fire is burning near Castaic Lake in the community of Castaic, just over six miles north of Six Flags Magic Mountain. It's a popular recreation area about 40 miles from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are burning for a third week.
The Hughes Fire near Castaic, north of Los Angeles, was 24% contained on Thursday afternoon, according to Cal Fire.
A fire spreading rapidly north of Los Angeles has shut one of California’s main transportation arteries.
A high wind warning was issued by the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA on Sunday at 3:03 p.m. valid from Monday 10 p.m. until Wednesday 2 p.m.
North to northeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected for Interstate 5 Corridor until 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Hughes Fire ignited on Wednesday afternoon about 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles, near Castaic Lake, in a mountainous region that borders several residential neighborhoods and schools. Fueled by strong winds and dry brush, the fire rapidly expanded to over 9,400 acres within hours, the report added.
A key stretch of Interstate 5 was closed Wednesday afternoon to southbound traffic due to a fast-moving wildfire sweeping through Southern California. The Hughes Fire sparked around 10:45 a.m. Wednesday near Castiac , according to the Angeles National Forest.