More than 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate from the Hughes Fire, and another 23,000 are under evacuation warnings, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said. There were no reports of homes or other structures burned. Parts of Interstate 5 near the Hughes Fire that had been closed reopened Wednesday evening.

The Hughes Fire broke out in the late morning and within six hours charred about 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) of trees and brush near Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area.

Southern Californians are bracing for gusty winds and a heightened risk of wildfires less than two weeks after deadly blazes that have killed at least 27 people and ravaged thousands of homes

The NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA issued a red flag warning at 9:54 a.m. on Tuesday in effect until 10 p.m. The warning is for Ventura County Beaches, Ventura County Inland Coast, Central Ventura County Valleys,

Millions of California residents were placed under a red flag warning through Thursday amid threats of further fires with looming winds in the forecast, according to multiple reports.

The National Weather Service on Tuesday extended its red flag warning for Southern California until Thursday evening.

A red flag warning was issued by the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA on Wednesday at 9:40 a.m. in effect until Thursday at 8 p.m. The warning is for Ventura County Beaches, Ventura County Inland Coast, Central Ventura County Valleys,