A fast-moving brush fire raced across thousands of acres of thick vegetation near Castaic Lake Wednesday, forcing mandatory evacuations in the lake area and into the heart of Castaic, with warnings stretching toward Santa Clarita and reaching the Ventura County line.

A fire north of a jail complex in Castaic has triggered evacuations in Los Angeles County, even as Southern California hopes for some rain to help with firefighting efforts.

The blaze was reported just after 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 in the area of Lake Hughes Road near the 5 Freeway, according to Cal Fire.

Monday's red-flag warning is a PDS, which stands for "particularly dangerous situation." But what does that mean? An NWS meteorologist explains.

The Hughes Fire was first reported shortly after 10:30 a.m. along Lake Hughes Road, near Castaic Lake and the 5 Freeway, according to Cal Fire.

B Holly Yan, Brandon Miller, Amanda Musa, Emma Tucker and Josh Campbell, CNN (CNN) — Exhausted firefighters battling deadly infernos for weeks are

Fire crews are battling a swiftly growing blaze dubbed the Hughes Fire burning near Interstate 5 in Castaic, in the northern part of Los Angeles County.

Firefighters fought to maintain the upper hand on a rapidly moving wildfire that swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles.

The Hughes Fire has spread over 5,054 acres after starting just before lunchtime in Los Angeles County's Castaic Lake area on Wednesday.

A fast-moving brush fire rapidly exploded across thousands of acres of thick vegetation near Castaic Lake, prompting mandatory evacuations in the lake area and into the heart of Castaic, but while high winds push the flames,

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.