North LA Hughes Fire Rapidly Decimates More Than 10,000 Acres, More Than 30,000 Forced to Evacuate

The Hughes Fire has prompted mandatory evacuations as it spreads near residential areas and Six Flags Magic Mountain. (Credit: Based DK/X)

A fast-moving wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles Wednesday morning, scorching more than 10,000 acres near Castaic Lake and forcing tens of thousands to flee.

By nightfall, officials confirmed that the Hughes blaze had reached an estimated 10,176 acres, with containment hovering at just 14%. The inferno, stoked by ferocious Santa Ana winds and bone-dry vegetation, marks the largest and fastest wildfire in Southern California since the historic Eaton and Palisades fires in early January.