With the Palisades and Eaton fires still not fully contained, a new Southern California blaze sparked up Wednesday north of Santa Clarita, burning more than 9,400 acres in a matter of hours, forcing evacuations by the thousands and shutting down sections of the 5 freeway.

Blaze consumes 14 hectares per minute driven by wind gusts, threatening several residential areas of Santa Clarita

The fast-moving Hughes Fire stoked fresh fears in a region already devastated by two weeks of deadly infernos.