CASTAIC, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters fought to maintain the upper hand on a huge and rapidly moving wildfire that swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles and resulted in more than 50,000 people being put under evacuation orders or warnings.

The Hughes Fire broke out late Wednesday morning and in less than a day had charred nearly 16 square miles of trees and brush near Lake Castaic.

The fast-burning Hughes Fire prompted evacuations on Wednesday morning after it was reported burning near Castaic Lake in Los Angeles County on Wednesday. (Source: KTTV)

A fast-moving wildfire exploded to roughly 10,200 acres near the Los Angeles County community of Castaic Wednesday morning, prompting mandatory evacuation orders and road closures, authorities said.

The Hughes wildfire in LA County has prompted Red flag warnings and evacuation orders across Southern California