A fast-moving wildfire exploded to roughly 10,200 acres near the Los Angeles County community of Castaic Wednesday morning, prompting mandatory evacuation orders and road closures, authorities said.

A hard-charging brush fire erupted in northern Los Angeles County on Wednesday, hustling through 5,054 acres of terrain so far, aided by heavy, dry brush and pushed by gusting Santa Ana winds, Cal Fire officials said.

A new fire exploded Wednesday north of Castaic, Calif., quickly charring more than 9,400 acres and forcing thousands to flee their homes amid a month of extreme fire conditions that have plagued the state.