The massive Eaton fire in Altadena burned 14,021 acres and tragically claimed the lives of 17 individuals. Even though it is now reported to be 95 percent contained, the fire is still active.
Despite the progress made in containing the Eaton fire, a new substantial fire erupted near Castaic Lake, situated to the Northwest of downtown Los Angeles last Wednesday. This fire expanded rapidly and has already consumed 9,457 acres with a mere five percent containment. At one point, the vital Interstate 5 had to be shut down in both directions due to the fire, but it has since been reopened.
As with the other fires, the scenes are absolutely apocalyptic:
A lot of homes in the path of the Hughes Fire.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB), under Gavin Newsom’s leadership, has been identified as a contributing factor to the wildfires due to the vast expanses of unmanaged dry brush acting as fuel for the fires.
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) January 22, 2025
Luckily, no structures have been burned so far, nor injuries reported.
Location for reference included. #hughesfire pic.twitter.com/c1Y5MsDs0o
— FirePhotoGirl (@FirePhotoGirl) January 23, 2025
Rain is forecast for this weekend, and it can’t come soon enough, although that brings a possible new danger to the equation—mudslides. Meanwhile, the wind continues to howl, making the efforts of the firefighters that much more difficult.
California’s leaders like Gov. Gavin Newsom, Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, and LA Mayor Karen Bass are taking heavy criticism for their policies, which, over the years, many believe significantly contributed to the unprecedented disaster. As I write tonight from the City of Angels, I can tell you that it’s like living through a movie—the sky is often choked with smoke and sometimes turns orange, the air quality is terrible, and even though my family is lucky enough not to have been close to the flames so far, we know many friends who have lost their houses and are now scrambling to find places to stay.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 23, 2025
