The fire threat remains critical in Southern California, where thousands of residents were under evacuation orders Wednesday as fire crews battled the out-of-control Hughes Fire near Castaic, a suburb in the foothills and mountains of northern Los Angeles County.

Firefighters in Southern California are once again battling a wildfire, this time in Castaic in Los Angeles County, north of Los Angeles itself. Evacuation orders have been issued for the surrounding areas.

The Hughes fire has burned through 3,407 acres since it started late Wednesday morning, according to local officials.

Californians forced to evacuate as fast-moving blaze rips through Los Angeles - Hughes fire has scorched more than 10,000 acres near the Castaic Lake, north of Santa Clarita, as high-winds fan flames

Updating maps of Southern California show where wildfires, including the Palisades and Eaton fires, are burning across Los Angeles.

Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted the second week of January and roared across the Los Angeles area.

The Hughes fire seen from Magic Mountain has started north of Castaic and has exploded to more than 5,000 acres in under two hours on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, in Castaic, California. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS) (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Evacuations were ordered on Wednesday for remote communities near a new wind-driven wildfire in mountains north of Los Angeles, as Southern California endured more dangerous winds ahead of possible rain over the weekend.

A brush fire erupted amid powerful winds Wednesday afternoon in the Castaic area in the northern region of Los Angeles County, spreading quickly to 10,176 acres near the freeway, officials said.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said that the fire department has deployed all available resources and positioned fire patrols and engines in high-risk areas across Los Angeles.

Evacuations have been ordered for remote communities near a new wind-driven wildfire in mountains north of Los Angeles.