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.

The Palisades and Eaton wildfires continue burning in the Los Angeles area, leaving parts of Southern California with devastating fire damage.

As critical fire weather continues to strike in Southern California, crews are also tasked with preparing for a storm expected this weekend that could trigger mudslides in burn scar areas.

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. As more than 400 firefighters responded to the scene, an air tanker and four helicopters attacked the blaze from the air, preventing it from jumping Interstate 5, officials said.

The fire — which erupted near Castaic Lake in Los Angeles County, north of Santa Clarita, late Wednesday morning — has grown to over 10,000 acres.

Gusty Santa Ana winds fanned the flames of a new, rapidly growing wildfire near Santa Clarita, California, on Wednesday, and smoke once again filled the sky over Southern California. The Hughes Fire was first reported at 10:53 a.

Exhausted firefighters battling deadly infernos for weeks are now grappling with more wildfires torching Southern California – including one that’s threatening 14,000 structures.

Thousands of firefighters have been battling wildfires across 45 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles County. The two largest fires, the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, remain active. One of the latest, the Hughes Fire in the Castaic area, has prompted evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people.

On Monday at 10:46 a.m. the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA issued a high wind warning. The warning is for Santa Clarita Valley, Ventura County Beaches, Ventura County Inland Coast, Central Ventura County Valleys,

The Hughes fire broke out near the Lake Castaic area of northern Los Angeles County, two weeks after blazes that claimed at least 28 lives and devastated the city broke out.

On Monday at 11:45 p.m. an air quality alert was issued valid until Tuesday at 10 p.m. The alert is for Calabasas and Agoura Hills, Eastern San Fernando Valley, Eastern San Gabriel Mountains, Eastern Santa Monica Mountains Recreational area,