A new and gigantic fire is still ravaging the hills around Los Angeles.

The flames, which broke out in the north of the city, forced authorities to evacuate 500 inmates from the nearby penitentiary.

In total, 19,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes due to the rapid expansion of this new fire called 'Hughes', which since 11 am on Wednesday (8 pm in Italy) has been devastating the Castaic Lake area, about 60 kilometres from the Californian metropolis.

The hilly and uninhabited area covered by flames grew from 20 hectares to 32 square kilometers in just six hours: "a football field every 2-3 seconds", CNN calculates.

Traffic in the richest state in the United States is blocked, as Highway 5, which runs from north to south across the Golden State, is closed in both directions .

Santa Ana winds, which also ignited and fueled the Palisades and Eaton fires two weeks ago, continue to blow through the area at 37 to 45 mph and are not expected to ease until Friday morning.

The National Weather Service is forecasting rain for Southern California on Saturday, which would end three weeks of wildfires that have left at least 27 dead.

(Online Union)

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