The Hughes Fire in Castaic, north of Los Angeles, prompted evacuations and shut down a vital part of California's freeway system.

The Hughes Fire, reported shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday near Castaic Lake, prompted evacuation of a 280-square-mile area north of Los Angeles. The map above shows the mandatory evacuation area in red and the approximate perimeter as a black line.

Firefighters from Cal Fire, Shasta Lake and Mountain Gate fire departments are working the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Jessica Skropanic is a feature

The Hughes fire started off Lake Hughes Road just before 11 a.m. and quickly prompted evacuations orders in and around Castaic Lake, which by afternoon extended toward Ventura County to the west and near Sandberg to the north. More than 31,000 people were ordered to evacuate and another 20,000 were in areas where evacuation warnings were issued.

Interstate 5 has been closed down temporarily because of the Hughes Fire. Authorities hurried to the site in Los Angeles and tried to control the fire.

Following a new wildfire in northern Los Angeles, California, thousands of residents have been placed under evacuation warnings and orders.

A rapidly growing wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles on Wednesday, consuming over 10,000 acres by nightfall and forcing the evacuation of 31,000 residents as extreme weather conditions fueled the blaze.

Interstate 5 was closed in both directions from the Grapevine to Castaic as the Hughes Fire burned Wednesday afternoon.The Hughes Fire broke our Wednesday morni

Firefighters battled two new brush fires - the Hughes Fire near Castaic Lake and the Sepulveda Fire in Bel Air, along the 405 Freeway.

The blaze temporarily closed parts of Interstate 5 and prompted evacuation orders and warnings for more than 50,000 people.

A wildfire described as “hellish” by witnesses has forced over 30,000 people to evacuate their homes north of Los Angeles. Dubbed the Hughes Fire, the blaze broke out on Wednesday morning near Lake Castaic,