With the Palisades and Eaton fires still not fully contained, a new Southern California blaze sparked up Wednesday north of Santa Clarita, burning more than 9,400 acres in a matter of hours, forcing evacuations by the thousands and shutting down sections of the 5 freeway.

Santa Clarita, the area affected by the Hughes Fire, is a densely populated community predominantly comprising workers and middle-class families.

At least 28 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires rage across Southern California.

Original: A brush fire erupted in Castaic, sending smoke over the Santa Clarita Valley. Around 10:40 a.m. Wednesday, first responders received reports of a brush fire on Lake Hughes Road north of Castaic Lake, according to officials. The fire is currently at 50+ acres. Smoke from the fire is visible throughout Santa Clarita.

Gusty Santa Ana winds fanned the flames of a new, rapidly growing wildfire near Santa Clarita, California, on Wednesday, and smoke once again filled the sky over Southern California. The Hughes Fire was first reported at 10:53 a.

The Palisades and Eaton wildfires continue burning in the Los Angeles area that left parts of Southern California with devastating fire damage.

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

Southern California’s notorious winds have swept through Santa Clarita, leaving a trail of fallen trees, power outages, and concern among residents. On Tuesday night, a city tree toppled onto a house on the 23100 block of Cerca Drive in Saugus.

Photos taken of the Hughes Fire around Castaic Lake, California captured the massive blaze and cloud of smoke visible from Six Flags Magic Mountain.

The Hughes fire broke out near the Lake Castaic area of northern Los Angeles County, two weeks after blazes that claimed at least 28 lives and devastated the city broke out.

The Hughes fire, burning near Castaic Lake north of Santa Clarita, grew to more than 8,000 acres in a little over four hours, with no containment. Nearby schools and tens of thousands of residents were evacuated.

Southern California will continue to face "dangerous fire weather conditions" including strong Santa Ana winds and extremely low humidity through later this week, forecasters said Tuesday.