The latest fire was reported Wednesday at 10:53 a.m. near Castaic, a community in northern Los Angeles County, and had scorched more than 5,000 acres hours later, according to fire officials.

A thick smoke cloud visible from the freeway and miles around cast a dark shadow over the area, including a residential community near Lake Hughes Road, in northern Los Angeles County.

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.