The Hughes Fire sent thick grey smoke billowing over homes in Santa Clarita, California. At least 31,000 residents were ordered to evacuate due to the rapid spread of the blaze on Wednesday afternoon,

Powerful winds and bone-dry conditions could pose a challenge to firefighters battling new wildfires in southern California on Thursday, including a blaze that swelled over the past day and forced tens of thousands of evacuations north of Los Angeles.

The areas surrounding the wildfire, including the San Gabriel Mountains, the 5 Freeway corridor near Castaic Lake and Santa Clarita, are expected to be the most impacted by the Hughes fire, which started near Castaic in the Antelope Valley and exploded to 10,176 acres.

With the Palisades and Eaton fires still not fully contained, a new Southern California blaze sparked up Wednesday north of Santa Clarita, burning more than 9,400 acres in a matter of hours, forcing evacuations by the thousands and shutting down sections of the 5 freeway.

Several schools in the Santa Clarita Valley have announced they they will be closed Friday due to the Hughes Fire in Castaic.

As critical fire weather continues to strike in Southern California, crews are also tasked with preparing for a storm expected this weekend that could trigger mudslides in burn scar areas.

Saddle up for a trip through entertainment history with a weekly highlight from Santa Clarita’s Walk of Western Stars! This week, actor Powers Boothe.

Exhausted firefighters battling deadly infernos for weeks are now grappling with more wildfires torching Southern California – including one that’s threatening 14,000 structures.

The Hughes fire, which broke out north of Santa Clarita on Wednesday, has scorched more than 10,000 acres.

On Tuesday at 10:43 p.m. the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA issued a high wind watch valid for Thursday between 2 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Hughes Fire forced evacuations in Santa Clarita, California. At least 31,000 residents were ordered to evacuate as the blaze grew to over 10,000 acres on Wednesday, January 22. Footage captured by Liana Herrera shows a cloud of smoke rising from the flames.

Over 1,100 firefighters were “strategically pre-positioned” across Southern California to address "ongoing critical fire weather," Cal Fire said.