Following arrests of alleged firefighter impersonators, officials say two more people have been taken into custody for using fake passes to unlawfully enter a fire evacuation zone.

By David Swanson and Daniel Trotta CASTAIC, California (Reuters) -A new wildfire that broke out north of Los Angeles on Wednesday rapidly spread to more than 9,400 acres (38 square km), fueled by strong winds and dry brush,

Offramps along Interstate 5, a major north-south artery, were closed as flames raced along hilltops and down into rugged canyons.

Firefighters in Southern California have been conducting more fierce wildfire fights as crews race to contain and extinguish several fires that broke out on Wednesday and Thursday.

Exhausted firefighters battling deadly infernos for weeks are now grappling with more wildfires torching Southern California – including one that’s threatening 14,000 structures. The Hughes Fire has already scorched more than 10,

The Hughes, Sepulveda and Laguna fires are the latest blazes in a nerve-racking week as Southern California heads into a fourth consecutive day of red flag fire weather warnings.

A brush fire erupted amid powerful winds Wednesday afternoon in the Castaic area in the northern region of Los Angeles County, spreading quickly to 10,176 acres near the freeway, officials said.

By Amanda Musa, Emma Tucker, Robert Shackelford and Hanna Park, CNN (CNN) — Firefighters are tackling a new brush fire — dubbed the Sepulveda Fire —

All lanes of the I-5 Freeway through the Grapevine will be closed for an unknown duration, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Barstow High School graduate Michael Ardon was one of several cadets from San Bernardino County who were sworn in as California Highway Patrol officers. Officer Ardon successfully completed cadet training at the California Highway Patrol Academy in West Sacramento and was assigned duty at the CHP’s Redwood City Area office.

The fire threat remains critical in Southern California, where thousands of residents were under evacuation orders Wednesday as fire crews battled the out-of-control Hughes Fire near Castaic, a suburb in the foothills and mountains of northern Los Angeles County.