Two more fires—the Sylmar Fire and the Tamarack Fire — erupted on Tuesday evening in Los Angeles County, prompting evacuations and highway closures.
Sylmar Fire
After 10:30 p.m., officials issued mandatory evacuation orders for the Sylmar Fire – also referred to as the Hurst Fire.
Early estimates suggested the fire was 100 acres, though just after 1:30 a.m. the fire had purportedly grown to some 500 acres. Officials issued evacuations for the following areas:
- Mandatory evacuationNorth of 210 Freeway from Roxford to the Interstate 5 / 14 Freeway split
- Evacuation Warning:5 Freeway to Woodley/Balboa to Lahey Street to Zelzah Ave
- Calgrove
- Newhall Pass
- Wildwood
- Eternal Valley
The Los Angeles Fire Department announced an evacuation center opened at Ritchie Valens Recreation Center, located at 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Pacoima 91331.
In addition, the Angeles National Forest announced evacuation centers at the following locations:
- Northridge Park: 10120 Reseda Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324
- Sepulveda Recreation Center: 8825 Kester Ave, Panorama City, CA 91402
The flames reportedly first broke out around 10:10 p.m. just north of the 210 Freeway, near the 5 / 14 split.
Just after 1:30 a.m., Governor Gavin Newsom announced California secured federal assistance to support the response to the Hurst Fire.
“We are working vigorously to ensure maximum support for firefighting efforts in Los Angeles, including the Hurst Fire, which is now threatening San Fernando and Newhall,” read the Governor’s statement. “Thank you to all our firefighting personnel and first responders protecting Californians in harm’s way.”
The Governor’s office said the Hurst Fire has prompted evacuation orders for more than 44,000 people and evacuation warnings for 27,000, with 40,000 structures threatened.
L.A. City Emergency Alerts posted the evacuations on X, adding that “Those not in the evacuation area should shelter in place.”
Caltrans also announced on X that all lanes of the Westbound I-210 were closed at 11:38 p.m. with all traffic being diverted off at Roxford Street.
“Also, Southbound I-5 connector to eastbound I-210 is closed,” Caltrans said. “Expect more closures soon in this vicinity.”
For an interactive map of the evacuation zones for the Sylmar Fire from LAFD, click here.
The Sylmar Fire is seen in Los Angeles County on Tuesday night. January 2025. (Amel Kharchenko KNN)
The Sylmar Fire is seen in Los Angeles County on Tuesday night. January 2025. (KKN)
Evacuees of the Sylmar Fire are seen in Los Angeles County on Tuesday night. January 2025. (Amel Kharchenko KNN)
The Sylmar Fire is seen in Los Angeles County on Tuesday night. January 2025. (Amel Kharchenko KNN)
Evacuees of the Sylmar Fire are seen in Los Angeles County on Tuesday night. January 2025. (Amel Kharchenko KNN)
The Sylmar Fire is seen in Los Angeles County on Tuesday night. January 2025. (Amel Kharchenko KNN)
The National Weather Service reported that the conditions for the Sylmar Fire included 20-25% humidity and north-northeast wind gusting 35 to 50 mph.
“50 to 70 mph along the ridgetops just north of the fire,” the weather service added.
Tamarack Fire
In addition, a separate brush fire broke out in the Sun Valley area along the 5 Freeway near Lankershim Boulevard.
Referred to as the Tamarack Fire, the California Highway Patrol incident report log shows officials shut down the 5 Freeway as crews moved in to work on the flames.
As of 11:30 p.m., no acreage or evacuations have been reported for the Tamarack Fire.
This is a developing story, more updates will be provided as information becomes available.
