The Hughes Fire near Castaic, California, has burned over 5,000 acres, prompting evacuations and school closures.

A fast-moving wildfire exploded to more than 9,200 acres near the Los Angeles County community of Castaic Wednesday morning, prompting mandatory evacuation orders and road closures, authorities said.

A fresh California wildfire ignited north of Los Angeles Wednesday during "critical" fire weather and triggered evacuations as it quickly exploded in size across two counties on Wednesday — and forecasters warned conditions would worsen overnight.