More than 50,000 people under evacuation orders or notice for fire north of Los Angeles

CASTAIC, California, USA — Nearly 20,000 people were ordered to evacuate Wednesday as a massive wildfire moved rapidly and tore through the rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, while arid Southern California endured another round of dangerous winds and two other large fires continued to burn.

The Hughes Fire broke out in the morning and within hours burned about 8 square miles (21 square kilometers) of trees and brush, generating a huge plume of dark smoke near the Castaic Lake area, a popular recreation area located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are still burning after three weeks.

A 30-mile (48-kilometer) stretch of Interstate 5, a major north-south thoroughfare, was closed as flames swept across hills and into steep canyons. Crews on the ground and in air tankers tried to prevent the wind-driven fire from crossing the highway and heading toward Castaic, where most of the 19,000 residents were ordered to evacuate. Another 15,000 residents in the area were warned to be prepared to leave at any time, according to the Los Angeles County Police Department.

Kayla Amara drove to the Stonegate neighborhood in Castaic to pick up items from the house of a friend who had left in a hurry to pick up her daughter from preschool. While Amara was packing up the car, she learned that the fire had grown in size and decided to douse the property with water.

“Other people are also spraying their houses with water. I hope there is a house to return to,” Amara said as police patrols passed through the streets and flames engulfed trees on a hill in the distance.

Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, said she has been nervous for weeks as large fires devastated Southern California.

“It’s been stressful with those other fires, but now that this one is close to home it’s just super stressful,” he said.

To the south of the state, officials in Los Angeles began preparing for possible rain even as some residents were cleared to return to the charred areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena. The windy weather was forecast to continue through Thursday and there was a chance of rain starting Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

“Rain is forecast and the threat of mud and debris flows in our fire-impacted communities is real,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said during a news conference Wednesday morning.

Fire crews filled sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleaned drainage pipes and basins.

Red flag alerts for critical fire risk were extended until 8 p.m. Thursday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Authorities remained concerned that the two large fires, the Palisades and Eaton fires, could break their containment lines as firefighters continue to monitor critical locations.

For her part, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned that the winds could blow ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city’s website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during the new Santa Ana wind event. Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer warned that the ash could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful materials.

“Even brief exposure can cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer said Wednesday, asking people to wear protective gear while cleaning.

Low humidity, extremely dry vegetation and high winds occurred as firefighters continued to battle the Eaton and Palisades fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they began on January 7. Containment of the Palisades Fire was 68%, and that of the Eaton Fire was 91%.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday that his department continues to investigate 22 active missing person reports in both fire zones. All of the people reported missing are adults, he added.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the causes of the fires but has not released any findings.

Several people who lost their homes in the Eaton fire have filed lawsuits, alleging that utility company Southern California Edison’s equipment started the fire. A judge overseeing one of the lawsuits on Tuesday ordered the company to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire started.