Under a red flag warning, any fires that do start are more likely to spread at a rapid rate behind strong winds. Flying embers also speed a brush fire's spread. Powerful gusts can cast hot embers for miles, starting spot fires ahead of the main fire line in a nightmare scenario for firefighters.

Crews are working to stop the progress of the Hughes Fire, which has burned thousands of acres near Castaic in just a few hours.

A fast-moving brush fire exploded in size in Castaic Wednesday morning, forcing evacuations near Lake Castaic and impacting traffic on the 5 Freeway. The fire, dubbed the Hughes Fire, was announced shortly before 10:45 a.

Two wildfires still burning in Los Angeles have torched more urban area than any other fire in the state since at least the mid-1980s, an Associated Press analysis shows.

Palisades Fire initially started 10:30 a.m. Jan. 7 in Los Angeles County. It has burned 23,448 acres after being active for 15 days. A crew of 4,237 firefighters has been working on site and they managed to contain 68% of the fire by Wednesday morning.