A rapidly spreading blaze in California is impacting communities in the Los Angeles area as thousands have been placed under evacuation orders, officials said.

The Canyon Fire in Southern California has currently spread to roughly 4,850 acres and prompted mass evacuations. The blaze's rapid spread was fueled by extreme heat and dry winds. The Gifford Fire in Central California nears 'megafire' status after burning over 99,000 acres.

The state's latest blaze erupted on Thursday afternoon and spread to more than 4,800 acres in a matter of hours, fire officials say.