Firefighters held the Hughes fire in check overnight, keeping the blaze at 10,176 acres with 14% containment as crews prepared for another day of critical fire weather, authorities said.

The fire, burning near Castaic in the Antelope Valley, was first reported around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, and exploded in size thanks to strong Santa Ana winds, prompting evacuation orders and warnings and, at one point, a short shutdown of the 5 Freeway.

More than 4,000 personnel were assigned to the fire and about a dozen aircraft were sent up to the Santa Clarita area to help ground crews, authorities said.

Hughes fire surpasses 10,000 acres near Castaic; evacuations ordered and 5 Freeway reopens

No structures have been reported damaged or destroyed as of Thursday morning.

Crews overnight focused on extinguishing hot spots and flare ups, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Wednesday evening.

The Hughes broke out during a red flag warning for troublesome fire weather. That warning, by the National Weather Service, lasts until Friday, with wind gusts expected to peak on Thursday, Jan. 23, according to meteorologists.

Firefighters could get a reprieve over the weekend, when light rain might arrive.

Mandatory evacuation orders were impacting about 31,000 people as of Wednesday night, officials said, with another 23,000 under evacuation warnings.

Nearly 500 inmates were evacuated on Wednesday from one of the Pitchess Detention Center campuses in Castaic to a nearby correctional facility, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The cause of the fire was not known yet.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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