The Canyon Fire started in Lake Piru in Ventura County on August 7, 2025. It traveled to the Los Angeles County area and prompted evacuation orders in the Val Verde area west of Castaic. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, as authorities are investigating potential roles of human activity.
Several schools, including Castaic High School, Castaic Middle School, and Castaic Elementary were evacuated due to the fire. Students from Castaic High were dismissed, and some were transported to West High School. Students from Castaic Middle and Elementary schools were evacuated to a nearby Ralph’s parking lot, and North Lake Elementary students were sent to the Castaic Sports Complex. Castaic High School was closed on August 8, based on the fire’s close proximity to the campus.
Castaic High Student Addison Borland was a witness to the Canyon Fire. After her school was evacuated, Addison and her friends went to go see the fire for themselves. Addison claims, “There was so much smoke leading up to the school, we could barely tell where we were driving. The flames were so bright everything around us almost looked red.” Multiple students of Castaic High School claimed to have seen the fire slowly creep over the hills, straight towards their school. A senior event to paint parking spots on campus even had to be postponed due to the fires’ intense threat. For many students the experience was both memorable and frightening, leaving a lasting impression from how close the fire came to their daily lives.
About 250 firefighters were actively battling the Canyon Fire, accompanied by air support. Los Angeles County Fire, Ventura County Fire, and Cal Fire were the major crews involved. Three firefighters sustained injuries, including Kern County Fire Department Chief James Agee. Agee was involved in a rollover accident while driving through the Romero Canyon area. He was airlifted from the scene, and is currently stable but still receiving medical treatment. There is a MealTrain fundraiser to support James’ recovery. Despite challenges and setbacks, officials praised the bravery of the crews who worked tirelessly to protect the local communities.
The fire was contained after a week of insanely hard work by firefighters on August 14, 2025. The fire destroyed multiple small buildings, including small outposts and sheds, but no homes were damaged. In addition to burned structures, multiple trails and access roads were destroyed, making it nearly impossible for crews and residents to move through the area. Power lines in the region also sustained damage, momentarily knocking out electricity for local households. The fire burned approximately 5,400 acres of land from Ventura all the way down to Castaic and Val Verde.
While the Canyon Fire left scars on the hillsides of Castaic and disrupted daily life, the response of the firefighters and school community ensured what could have been a tragedy became a reminder of unity in our community.
