Powerful winds and bone-dry conditions were expected to pose a challenge to firefighters battling new wildfires in southern California on Thursday, including a new blaze that swelled over the past day,

Firefighters are battling a fast-moving blaze in southern California that has swelled over the past day, with authorities warning that Thursday is "the period of greatest concern". The Hughes fire, about 45 miles (72 km) north of Los Angeles,

The Hughes Fire is forcing evacuations near Castaic, approximately 45 miles north of Los Angeles. As NBC News' Liz Kreutz reports, thousands of firefighters are on the ground battling the blaze while planes and helicopters attack from the skies.