LOS ANGELES — Containment of the Hughes Fire near Castaic Lake was at 98% Tuesday, with crews primarily seeking out and extinguishing lingering hot spots in the burn area and all residents now allowed to return to their homes.

Firefighters continued to improve and add control lines while keeping the fire from advancing, possibly aided by the rain in putting out hot spots while soil loosened by the flames made mudslides possible.

Fire officials planned to begin releasing firefighters and resources to make them available for future incidents should they be needed, Cal Fire officials said.

The Hughes Fire was reported at about 11 a.m. on Jan. 22 in a remote area east of the lake, according to Cal Fire. Aided by gusting Santa Ana winds and thick, dry vegetation, the fire exploded over thousands of acres, reaching 9,450 acres as of early Wednesday evening. But thanks to an aggressive aerial attack on the fire, the flames were dramatically slowed by nightfall. As of Thursday evening, the fire was mapped at 10,425 acres.

No structures have been reported destroyed, according to fire officials.

It was unclear what sparked the fire, which erupted during persistent red flag fire conditions.

Evacuations

Most evacuation orders were lifted as of Saturday, according to Cal Fire, but some areas remained under an evacuation warning. Those final warnings were lifted Tuesday.

Sheriff's officials urged residents returning to their homes to do so with caution, noting continued poor air quality to due ash and smoke, and the dangers of fire debris. Residents were also urged to wear N-95 masks, limit outdoor activities and keep their windows and doors closed.

See the map below, and make sure to click "view full screen."

Evacuation centers

A temporary evacuation center for people displaced by the fire was originally established at Hart High School, 24825 Newhall Ave., Santa Clarita, but the Red Cross established an evacuation shelter at College of the Canyons East Gym, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road.

On Saturday, Cal Fire said that Red Cross had closed their evacuation center for the fire, due to the rapid rate of containment and repopulation. 

Closures

On Wednesday evening, Castaic Union School District officials said that it will close all of its schools on Thursday due to the Hughes Fire.

The Golden State (5) Freeway was closed in both directions between Grapevine Road on the north and state Route 126 on the south as the fire raged, but it was reopened early Wednesday evening, with smoke no longer causing visibility concerns on the roadway.

Roads closures

• Ridge Route Road at Lake Hughes
• Ridge Route Road at Templin Highway
• Lake Hughes at Pine Canyon
• Dry Gulch at San Francisquito Canyon Road

School closures

• Castaic Middle School and Castaic Elementary school: All students evacuated to Ralph's parking lot at Hasley Canyon. Parents need to respond there 
• College of the Canyons
• Castaic Union School District confirmed the Northlake Hills Elementary School has been evacuated due to the fire, the students were taken to the Castaic Sports Complex
• The superintendent’s office at Hart School District said Castaic High School was being dismissed early due to the fire
• College of the Canyons closed both of its campuses in the Santa Clarita. They will remain closed Thursday. Online classes will be held as scheduled.

Animal shelters

• Large animals can be taken to Lancaster Animal Care Center and Pierce College
• Small animals can be taken to Palmdale, Agoura and Lancaster Animal Care Centers

Jails

The ACLU of Southern California alerted the LA County Board of Supervisors to the thousands of people in its custody at four north county jails in the Hughes Fire evacuation warning zone and demanded their immediate evacuation.

In a statement, ACLU of SoCal said:

"At least 4,700 people are incarcerated in four north county jails within the Hughes Fire evacuation warning zone. We have long opposed the expansion of the jail system especially in dangerous fire zones and we are gravely concerned for the safety of people incarcerated in those jails. We urge our county supervisors to direct the L.A. Sheriff's Department to immediately organize the transportation needed to evacuate the jails without delay.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the sheriff's Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic was under an evacuation order, and about 476 inmates were being moved to a neighboring facility, likely the North County Correctional Facility.

In an interview with local media, Luna said the department consulted with the fire department, and the roughly 4,600 inmates being held at the jails in the area were sheltering in place, noting the concrete structures.

But he said buses were being moved to the jails in case conditions changed and inmates need to be moved.

Health notices

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a smoke advisory due to the Hughes Fire, saying smoke from the blaze will likely most directly impact areas such as the San Gabriel Mountains, the 5 Freeway corridor and Santa Clarita.

Areas such as the San Fernando Valley, Malibu and Pacific Palisades may also be affected.

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District also issued an Air Quality Alert because unhealthy conditions exist in the areas due to the Hughes Fire.

Smoke from the Hughes Fire is causing the Air Quality Index (AQI) to fall in the unhealthy range for everyone in Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Oxnard, Piru, Santa Paula, Simi Valley and Ventura. Smoke and ash from wildfires contain very small particles that can harm the lungs and heart.

The alert will be in effect until conditions improve.

Ventura County Public Health recommends that you:

• Stay indoors as much as possible, preferably in a “clean room” with an indoor air filtration device where you can avoid cooking or burning candles.
• Close all windows and doors that lead outside unless it is extremely hot.
• Operate home and car air conditioners in recycle or recirculation mode. Close the fresh air intake and replace dirty filters.
• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity. If you must work outside, wear a properly fitted N95 mask.

Live camera