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

California wildfires live updates: 30,000 evacuated as explosive Hughes fire breaks out amid strong winds near Castaic - Hughes Fire is growing rapidly near Castaic Lake, about 45 miles northwest of L

More than 50,000 people in Southern California were under evacuation orders or warnings on Wednesday as a huge and fast-moving wildfire swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles. The Hughes Fire broke out in the late morning as the parched region endured another round of dangerous winds and within hours charred more than 15 square miles

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.

Amid an extended red flag warning, a new fire exploded north of Castaic. Evacuations were ordered after 11 a.m. Wind gusts reached 31 mph Wednesday afternoon in the area and are expected to increase over the next several hours.

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

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

A rare Particularly Dangerous Situation warning has been issued for Southern California as a powerful and potentially damaging Santa Ana wind event​ is expected.

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)

Smoke quickly filled the skies over Southern California on Wednesday as a new wildfire, dubbed the Hughes Fire, rapidly grew to more than 5,000 acres, video shows.

As winds across the Southern California area are calmer than their peak and firefighters are making progress, the threat to the fire-weary region remains with Santa Ana winds expected to continue in the coming days.