Powerful winds and bone-dry conditions were expected to pose a challenge to firefighters battling new wildfires in southern California on Thursday, including a new blaze that swelled over the past day,

Firefighters responded to a brush fire Wednesday north of Los Angeles on a day of red flag warnings for parts of Southern California.

Mandatory evacuation orders and warnings have been issued for a fast-moving wildfire that has burned at least 500 acres near the Los Angeles County community of Castaic Wednesday morning, authorities said.

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.

Officials issued evacuation orders in and around the Castaic Lake area. Evacuation warnings border Santa Clarita, one residential area closest to the fire.

A new wildfire broke out in Los Angeles County, California, Wednesday, called the Hughes fire that has already grown to more than 5,000 acres in size.

One witness described the scene as looking like "you were driving into hell", as authorities say just 14 percent of the Hughes Fire has been contained.

The Hughes Fire, near the Castaic Lake area, spread to more than 10,000 acres as the smaller Sepulveda Fire broke out along Interstate 405.

The Hughes Fire has now burned 8,096 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties since igniting late Wednesday morning near Castaic Lake, according to Cal Fire. More than 24,00 people have been ordered to evacuate due to the Hughes Fire. Another 30,000 people are in evacuation warning zones.

Firefighters responded to a brush fire Wednesday north of Los Angeles on a day of red flag warnings for parts of Southern California.

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.