The Hughes Fire has spread over 8,096 acres after starting just before lunchtime in Los Angeles County's Castaic Lake area on Wednesday.

A rapidly spreading brush fire ignited near Castaic Lake on Wednesday morning, blanketing the Santa Clarita Valley with smoke. The blaze, dubbed the Hughes Fire, was reported shortly after 10:40 a.m.

The Hughes fire has prompted mandatory evacuations in Castaic, California, as the fire has a "rapid rate of spread" Cal Fire said.

A day earlier, the blaze was first reported around 10:45 a.m. near Castaic ... map shows the areas with the restrictions. Drought conditions intensified and expanded in Southern and Central ...

The Hughes Fire, Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire are burning in Los Angeles County. This map shows the locations.

Nine wildfires are currently burning across Southern California as of Friday morning, five of which ignited yesterday.

The fires include the deadly Eaton and Palisades fire and the Hughes Fire, which started Wednesday morning in the Castaic area ... fires on record in California. The region is under severe ...

The Hughes Fire has spread to over 8,000 acres in Los Angeles County's Castaic area on Wednesday ... to boost fire conditions across Southern California. The brush fire spawned northwest of ...

Get top local stories in Southern California delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC LA's News Headlines newsletter. The Hughes Fire started at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Castaic north ...