As critical fire weather continues to strike in Southern California, not only do first responders have their hands full with multiple fires burning in the area, they are also preparing for a storm expected this weekend that could trigger mudslides in burn scar areas.
In response, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued executive orders to expedite efforts to clear out wildfire debris ahead of the upcoming weekend.
While crews continue to make progress with the massive Eaton and Palisades fire that left communities devastated, they are now battling the Hughes Fire in the Santa Clarita Valley, which has put an estimated 50,000 residents under evacuation orders.
Red flag warnings remain in effect for most of the Southland through Friday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m.
Follow FOX 11’s live blog with the latest updates provided in the timeline below:
Fire crews aim to gain upper hand against Hughes Fire
8:02 a.m.: FOX 11’s Mario Ramiez reported from Castaic where deputies were turning residents away.
Pasadena students thrilled to return to school
7:45 a.m. FOX 11’s Koco McAboy spoke to a student who was excited to be back at school and return to soccer practice after Willard Elementary was closed for weeks due to the Eaton Fire.
Road Closures
7:30 a.m.: The Grapevine section of the 5 Freeway has reopened.
The following road closures remain in effect:
- The northbound 5 Freeway to Parker Road off-ramp
- The northbound 5 Freeway to Lake Hughes Road off-ramp
- Parker Road/Ridge Road eastbound from The Old Road
- Lake Hughes Road Road eastbound from The Old Road
Dust and Ash Advisory
7:15 a.m.: Due to wildfire smoke, an Air Quality Alert is in effect for parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties through 6 p.m. Thursday.
Hughes Fire evacuation centers
7:05 a.m.: Two evacuation centers have opened for those impacted by the Hughes Fire.
- College of the Canyons: 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA, 91355
- Hart High School: 24825 Newhall Avenue, Santa Clarita, CA, 91321
Pasadena schools reopen
7 a.m.: The Pasadena Unified School District welcomed back students for the first time in over two weeks after the Eaton Fire left communities in the San Gabriel Valley devastated.
School Closures
6:00 a.m. Some schools are closed in the Santa Clarita Valley on Thursday. See a full list of school closures below:
- Castaic High School
- Valencia High School
- Rio Norte Junior High School
- Academy of the Canyons
- All schools within the Castaic Union School District
- Select schools in the Saugus Unified School District: West Creek Academy, Tesoro del Valley Elementary, Mountainview Elementary, as well as the district office.
Hughes Fire grows overnight
5:30 a.m.: The Hughes Fire grew overnight with Cal Fire reporting 10,176 acres burned with 14% containment.
Evacuation Orders
The following fire zones remain under evacuation orders: CAS-BISCAILUZ, CAS-BITTERCANYON, CAS-CASTAICLAKE, CAS-CHARLIECANYON, CAS-PARADISERANCH, CAS-RIDGE, , LAC-E008, LAC-E016, LAC-E029, LAC-FRANCISQUITO, SCL-KELLYJOHNSON, SCL-REYESADOBE, SCL-STERLING, SCL-TESORODELVALLE, VNC Zone 1.
Evacuation Warnings
The following fire zones remain under an evacuation warning: CAS-CAMBRIDGE, CAS-GOLDENSTATE, CAS-GREENHILL, CAS-HASLEY, CAS-HILLCREST, CAS-INDUSTRY, CAS-LIVEOAK, CAS-OAKCANYON, CAS-ROMERO, CAS-SLOAN, CAS-VALVERDE, GOR-E004, GOR-HUNGRYVALLEY, LAC-E005, LAC-E009-B, LAC-E011-A, LAC-E011-B, LAC-E017, LAC-E018, LAC-E030, SCL-BLACKPINE, SCL-CALEX, SCL-DECORO, SCL-MOUNTAINVIEW, SCL-PACIFICCREST, SCL-RANCHOTESORO, SCL-REYESABODE, SCL-RIONORTE, SCL-WESTHILLS, SCL-RYE, VNC Zone 2, VNC Zone 3, VNC Zone 4, VNC Zone 5, VNC Zone 6, VNC Zone 7, VNC Zone 8.
Click here to get emergency notifications from LA County.
SigAlert canceled on the 405 Freeway
4:30 a.m.: The California Highway Patrol canceled a SigAlert for areas that were impacted by the Sepulveda Fire.
- The Getty Center Drive offramps from the northbound and southbound 405 Freeway have reopened.
- The Sepulveda Boulevard offramp from the southbound 405 Freeway has reopened.
Forward progress stopped on Sepulveda Fire
1:55 a.m.: The Los Angeles Fire Department said forward progress has been stopped on the Sepulveda Fire that ignited on the 405 Freeway in the Sherman Oaks area. All evacuation warnings have been lifted.
OFFICIAL FIRE AND EVACUATION MAPS FROM GENASYS PROTECT:
The Hughes Fire
The Huges Fire was first reported in the Castaic on Wednesday, Jan. 22 along the Lake Hughes Road near Castaic Lake. While the fire put more than 50,000 residents across Los Angeles and Ventura counties in evacuation warnings and orders, officials have not made announcements on buildings or homes being destroyed.
The Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire was first reported on Tuesday, Jan. 7 near Altadena and Midwick drives.
Some residents did not survive the flames and at least 7,000 structures were destroyed.
Authorities have implemented a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for all areas that remain under mandatory evacuation orders in the Altadena area. This comes after more than 30 looting arrests were made by the LA County Sheriff’s Department.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but they were fueled by extreme drought conditions, combined with the supersized Santa Ana winds that whipped flames and embers at 100 mph – much faster than usual.
A lawsuit filed Monday claims Southern California Edison equipment sparked the Eaton Fire.
The lawsuit alleges that Southern California Edison failed to comply with essential electrical and fire safety standards, including failing to maintain power lines and overgrown vegetation.
The Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire broke out on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 7 as parts of Southern California were hit by powerful Santa Ana winds – the strongest to hit the area in over a decade, officials said. The piercing winds not only intensified the spread of the fire, it also prevented helicopters and planes from dumping water or fire retardant onto the burning scene as it was too dangerous to fly during the first day of the massive fire.
The fire extended well over 23,000 acres in seven days, destroying homes and businesses across the Pacific Palisades and Malibu. The fire also forced evacuations across parts of LA County, including Bel-Air, Brentwood and Santa Monica.
The fire also destroyed the Pacific Palisades Charter High School and other schools in the fire’s path.
What caused the Palisades Fire?
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, a popular hiking destination, Skull Rock – an area north of Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades – is at the center of an investigation “as a possible starting point for the Palisades fire.”
Meanwhile, local authorities have announced multiple rounds of arrests taking place from the Palisades Fire scenes, but none of which are explicitly related to the cause of the fire. Over the weekend, there was an announcement of a man arrested for impersonating a firefighter. The alleged “fake firefighter” was accused of trying to break into one of the evacuated homes.
Other people have also been accused of arson across Southern California.
Quick Resources
WildfiresSanta ClaritaLos Angeles CountyVentura CountyRiverside CountyOrange CountyInstastoriesSevere Weather
