Firefighters made progress on the fast-spreading Hughes Fire in northwest Los Angeles County yesterday despite continued strong gusts in the area. Growth in the fire near Castaic Lake was halted after the blaze scorched over 10,000 acres in less than 24 hours Wednesday. Its rapid pace had prompted evacuation orders or warnings for over 50,000 residents near Santa Clarita, though most had returned to their homes by yesterday. It was 36% contained as of this writing.
The Hughes Fire’s quick spread made it the third-largest fire in the region after the twin Palisades and Eaton fires claimed 28 lives and burned more than 40,000 acres earlier this month. Impacted communities of those fires, which include dozens of celebrities, have begun the process of rebuilding, with the costs of the fires estimated to be $50B, including an estimated $350M in LA infrastructure.
Ash blown from burn scars prompted air quality alerts in much of the region. Several smaller fires have erupted in the area, including the Sepulveda and Laguna fires, which have been halted by thousands of prepositioned first responders.
