Key Highlights:

• Evacuation orders lifted for thousands as firefighters slow down the spread of the Hughes Fire.
• New fires erupt in San Diego County, prompting temporary evacuations.
• Southern California remains under a red flag warning with rain predicted for the weekend.
• A $2.5 billion fire relief package has been approved to assist recovery efforts.

Evacuation orders were lifted Thursday for tens of thousands of residents as firefighters, aided by air support, slowed the spread of a massive wildfire known as the Hughes Fire, churning through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles. Reports noted that despite significant progress, new blazes erupted in San Diego County, briefly triggering evacuations. Southern California is currently under a red flag warning for critical fire risk through Friday, as dangerous winds added to the ongoing challenges.

The Hughes Fire, which broke out late Wednesday morning, rapidly charred nearly 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) of trees and brush near Castaic Lake, a popular recreation area positioned approximately 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that have been burning for over three weeks. By Thursday afternoon, firefighters had managed to contain around one-third of the Hughes Fire.

On the same day, two new fires emerged in the San Diego area. One of them, a brush fire in the wealthy enclave of La Jolla near the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, led to temporary evacuations, although the situation stabilized shortly thereafter. Another wildfire quickly spread through the Otay Mountain Wilderness, home to endangered species like the Quino checkerspot butterfly.

Weather forecasts predict rain over the weekend, which could provide respite after an extended dry spell in the region. Notably, winds have diminished in intensity compared to when the Palisades and Eaton fires ignited, allowing firefighting aircraft to deploy tens of thousands of gallons of fire retardant to combat the Hughes Fire effectively. Fire spokesperson Jeremy Ruiz noted, “We had helicopters dropping water until around 3 a.m. That kept it in check.”

As of Thursday, nearly 54,000 residents in the Castaic area remain under evacuation warnings, with no damage reported to homes or structures. Amid escalating concerns, residents such as Kayla Amara, a nurse living in nearby Valencia, expressed heightened stress levels as fires encroached upon familiar areas.

The two significant blazes, the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, currently show signs of containment with over 75% and 95% control, respectively. Collectively, these fires have claimed at least 28 lives and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since igniting on January 7. Furthermore, the wildfires have incurred at least $28 billion in insured damages, alongside additional potential losses that may go uninsured.

To assist with disaster recovery, the California Legislature has approved a comprehensive fire relief package amounting to $2.5 billion, aimed chiefly at facilitating recovery efforts in the impacted Los Angeles area. President Donald Trump has plans to visit California for a firsthand assessment of the fire damage, although details regarding a meeting with Governor Gavin Newsom remain uncertain.

For more information on the ongoing situation, please refer to source.