CASTAIC, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters fought to maintain the upper hand on a huge and rapidly moving wildfire that swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles and resulted in more than 50,000 people being put under evacuation orders or warnings.

More than 50,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings Wednesday as a huge and fast-moving wildfire swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, as parched Southern California endured another round of dangerous winds and two major previous blazes continued to smolder.

The Hughes Fire broke out late Wednesday morning and quickly burned through hundreds of acres of trees and brush, sending up a huge plume of dark smoke near the Lake Castaic area

FIREFIGHTERS ARE RESPONDING TO A FAST-MOVING BRUSH FIRE NEAR CASTAIC, JUST NORTH OF LOS ANGELES. THE HUGE FIRE BROKE OUT ABOUT 1030 THIS MORNING, AND IT’S ALREADY PRETTY INTENSE. AND FLAMES. THESE ARE LIVE PICTURES.

More than 50,000 are under evacuation orders or warnings as a new wind-driven wildfire spreads in the mountains north of Los Angeles.

The Hughes fire sent huge flames and plumes of smoke over a hilly area and further taxed firefighters who have managed to bring two major fires in the Los Angeles area largely under control

The Hughes Fire broke out on Wednesday and in less than a day had charred nearly 16 square miles of trees and brush.

The Hughes Fire broke out late Wednesday morning and in less than a day had charred nearly 16 square miles of trees and brush near Lake Castaic.