Following arrests of alleged firefighter impersonators, officials say two more people have been taken into custody for using fake passes to unlawfully enter a fire evacuation zone.

By David Swanson and Daniel Trotta CASTAIC, California (Reuters) -A new wildfire that broke out north of Los Angeles on Wednesday rapidly spread to more than 9,400 acres (38 square km), fueled by strong winds and dry brush,

Firefighters in Southern California conducted another fierce wildfire fight on Wednesday and into Thursday morning.

Nearly 20,000 people were ordered to flee an area north of Los Angeles on Wednesday after a fast-moving wildfire exploded, growing to more than 5,000 acres in a few hours, officials said.

Offramps along Interstate 5, a major north-south artery, were closed as flames raced along hilltops and down into rugged canyons.

A brush fire erupted amid powerful winds Wednesday afternoon in the Castaic area in the northern region of Los Angeles County, spreading quickly to 10,176 acres near the freeway, officials said.

All lanes of the I-5 Freeway through the Grapevine will be closed for an unknown duration, according to the California Highway Patrol.

By Amanda Musa, Emma Tucker, Robert Shackelford and Hanna Park, CNN (CNN) — Firefighters are tackling a new brush fire — dubbed the Sepulveda Fire —

A fast-growing brush fire forced evacuation orders in the Los Angeles County community of Castaic on Wednesday, officials said. The blaze, which officials named the Hughes Fire, was first reported shortly after 10:30 a.m. along Lake Hughes Road, near Castaic Lake and the 5 Freeway, according to Cal Fire.

Barstow High School graduate Michael Ardon was one of several cadets from San Bernardino County who were sworn in as California Highway Patrol officers. Officer Ardon successfully completed cadet training at the California Highway Patrol Academy in West Sacramento and was assigned duty at the CHP’s Redwood City Area office.

An explosive new wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles on Wednesday, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes and setting nerves jangling in an area still reeling from two deadly blazes.