As the sun began to set over Castaic Lake on Wednesday, the hills to the north and east were engulfed in flames, casting an eerie orange glow across the valley below.

Photos taken of the Hughes Fire around Castaic Lake, California captured the massive blaze and cloud of smoke visible from Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Southern California is under a red flag warning for critical fire risk after the Hughes Fire broke out late on Wednesday morning. It charred nearly 41 square kilometres of vegetation near Castaic Lake in less than a day, a popular recreation area about 64 kilometres from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires burning for a third week.