See map below for remaining Evacuation Orders (in red) and Evacuation Warnings (in yellow).
Residents were urged to wear N-95 masks, limit outdoor activities and keep their windows and doors closed.
Watch on Deadline
As of Thursday morning, the fire was mapped at 10,176 acres.
Firefighters battle the Hughes Fire in Castaic north of Los AngelesAPU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images
Also impacted was CBSS.W.A.T., which films in nearby Santa Clarita.
According to another official, the freeway had been closed because smoke had made driving impossible.
We needed to control access and egress, said Luna.
The fire is being driven by wind, said Marrone.
The fire is really difficult to contain, although we are getting the upper hand.
Marrone noted that as of the early evening there were no reports of structures damaged or injuries.
Areas such as the San Fernando Valley, Malibu and Pacific Palisades may also be affected.
Thats according to local TV outlets, all of which preempted regular coverage to focus on the conflagration.
It was at 0% containment.
Traffic AlertAll lanes of northbound & southbound I-5 are CLOSED through the Grapevine due to the Hughes Fire.
Northbound lanes are closed at State Route 126.
Southbound lanes are closed at Grapevine Road.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said another 16,000 people were under evacuation warnings as of early afternoon.
By 1:30 p.m., there was a gust near Castaic to 39 mph.
See video of the air quality in Oxnard below.
Looking quite apocalyptic with this heavy smoke!
!#HughesFire#californiaFirespic.twitter.com/Jgw0u353IN
All areas in the immediate vicinity of Castaic Lake were under mandatory evacuation orders.
Those were expanded to the southwest, into the heart of Castaic.
Thats just north of Magic Mountain.
Warnings are also in place to the Ventura County line just south of Pyramid Lake.
See map from Watch Duty below.
Northeast winds will be increasing over the next few hours, especially over lower elevations.
Some lower elevation areas will stay windy while others will be sheltered.
High confidence in winds increasing and peaking everywhere Thursday morning and afternoon.
The#HughesFireas seen from the 5-North towards Castaic as friends rush home to get their pets.
@foxlapic.twitter.com/IpkmFs1LAP
While its still a long way off, the NWS forecast sees significant change for the weekend.
Confidence is high for a cold air mass moving over the region with high to likely chance of rain.
Totals are expected to be between .25 and .50 inches.
The forecast includes a chance of thunderstorms in the L.A. area, most likely between Sunday afternoon and evening.
Last year lightning sparked thousands of fires in California.
Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest were attacking the blaze.
Elsewhere, the Palisades Fire stands at 23,448 acres and was 68% contained as of this morning.
There have been at least 11 related deaths, 6,662 structures destroyed and 890 damaged.
The Eaton Fire is at 14,021 acres and 91% contained.
There have been at least at least 17 related deaths, 9,418 structures destroyed and 1,073 damaged.
City News Service contributed to this report.
