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 – Two wildfires burning near Lakeside this week have tested the endurance of Cal Fire crews, disrupted daily life for local residents, and reignited questions about how California prepares for fire season in increasingly volatile terrain.
The Monte Fire, which began Tuesday afternoon in the 15000 block of El Monte Road, surged to more than 1,048 acres by Thursday, with containment hovering around 25%. Though the fire’s growth has slowed, thanks in part to cooler weather and strategic overnight efforts, officials say steep, rocky terrain continues to challenge their containment efforts. “The fire continues to burn at a slow to moderate rate of spread,” Cal Fire reported, describing a firefight as grueling as it is methodical.
As smoke drifted over the hills, a new blaze sparked Thursday around 3 p.m. near Hawick Drive, just a few miles away. Dubbed the Hawick Fire, it burned 51 acres before crews managed to stop its forward progress by late afternoon. Cal Fire later reported the fire was 50% contained by 9:30 p.m., though crews remained on site through the night, constructing hand lines and extinguishing hotspots.
The two fires, burning simultaneously in San Diego County’s inland hills, have prompted evacuations, air quality warnings, and a flurry of emergency response efforts — both in the air and on the ground. Helicopters, including Black Hawks, were deployed to fly firefighters directly to inaccessible ridgelines, bypassing what would have been six-hour treks by foot. “There’s only one way in and out back there,” said Jolene Corella, a resident who evacuated Tuesday. “We grabbed our dogs, our neighbors’ dogs, a few things, and took off.”
Evacuation orders affected remote but vulnerable communities. While some orders near El Monte Road were lifted late Wednesday, others remain in place. Cal Fire estimates that roughly ten structures remain within or near the Monte Fire’s perimeter. No property damage has been reported, though two firefighters suffered minor injuries.
The San Diego Humane Society and County Animal Services mobilized to evacuate pets and livestock, with large animals taken to Dianne Jacob Equestrian Park in Lakeside. Smoke conditions prompted the county’s Air Pollution Control District to issue advisories for several communities, including Blossom Valley and San Diego Country Estates.
The causes of both fires remain under investigation. As conditions grow more unpredictable and fire seasons stretch longer each year, the Monte and Hawick Fires are a sobering reminder: in California, the spark is rarely the end of the story — it’s only the beginning.
