A Riverside county fire truck turns away from the flames of the Hughes Fire on Lake Hughes road, in Castaic, a northwestern neighborhood of Los Angeles County, California, on January 22, 2025. A new wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles on January 22, exploding in size and sparking thousands of evacuation orders in a region already staggering from the effects of huge blazes. Ferocious flames were devouring hillsides near Castaic Lake, spreading rapidly to cover 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) in just over two hours. The fire was being fanned by strong, dry Santa Ana winds that were racing through the area, pushing a vast pall of smoke and embers ahead of the flames. Evacuations were ordered for 19,000 people all around the lake, which sits around 35 miles north of Los Angeles, and close to the city of Santa Clarita. (Photo by Apu GOMES / AFP) (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images)
San Diego, California – A large brush fire in northern San Diego County has burned approximately 300 acres as firefighters continue working to contain the blaze, which began Friday evening near Henderson and Pala Mission roads in the Pala area. The fire, referred to as the Henderson Fire, remains 0% contained as of Saturday morning and is burning in steep and rugged terrain near the Pala Reservation.
The fire was first reported around 5:45 p.m. Friday and initially covered 182 acres. By late Saturday morning, it had grown to 300 acres, with most of the active flames located on the eastern flank. The fire is threatening nearby structures, and firefighting crews are using water-dropping helicopters to combat the flames from the air, while additional personnel and equipment have been requested to assist with containment efforts.
Evacuation orders are in place for the areas immediately surrounding the Pala community, which lies just south of the San Diego-Riverside County line and is home to the Pala Band of Mission Indians. A temporary evacuation point has been established at the Pala Casino parking lot. As the fire spreads, evacuation warnings have extended into parts of southwest Riverside County, including neighborhoods south of Temecula such as Oak Haven Estates, sections of the Pechanga Reservation, and rural portions of the Agua Tibia Wilderness.
Several local roads have been closed, and smoke advisories have been issued by the North San Diego County Fire Protection District and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Winds are pushing smoke northward into western Riverside County, resulting in moderate air pollution levels. The Riverside County Emergency Management Department has opened an evacuation center at Temecula Valley High School at 31555 Rancho Vista Road in Temecula.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and Cal Fire officials have emphasized that despite minimal fire behavior overnight, significant resources are being deployed due to the challenging terrain and continued threat to surrounding communities.
