A new wildfire has erupted in Southern California known as the Sepulveda Fire near the intersection of Interstate 405 and Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles. This fire broke out hours after crews started gaining control over the Hughes Fire which rapidly spread earlier in the day.

Thousands of residents in the area were forced to evacuate due to the Hughes Fire which has burned over 10,000 acres and remains only 14% contained. Fortunately there have been no reports of significant structural damage so far though the situation remains serious.

Meanwhile the Sepulveda Fire has burned around 40 acres and is still active with firefighters continuing efforts to control the blaze. Air support and other aggressive tactics are being used to manage the fire. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed that fire crews are on the scene.

Southern California is facing critical fire conditions with dry vegetation and strong winds fueling the flames. Around 23,000 residents are under evacuation warnings while an additional 31,000 are under evacuation orders. Firefighters are continuing to battle the fire with over 4,000 personnel involved in the operation.

Schools and a county jail in Castaic were also evacuated as a precaution. The Valencia and Canyon Country campuses of College of the Canyons closed and a number of public places have been shut down to ensure safety.

The authorities have issued a red flag warning through Friday as the Santa Ana winds continue to make firefighting efforts challenging. The fire is expected to spread toward the south and west away from its starting point and models predict that the region around Castaic remains in significant danger.

With ongoing efforts and favorable conditions like calmer winds firefighters are still actively working to contain the fire. However experts remain cautious stressing that the dry and steep terrain could quickly lead to further spread.