BREAKING: NEW fire breaks out near Hollywood sign, mandatory evacuations ordered

As if the fires burning in and around Los Angeles, California weren't enough, a new fire has broken out in the Hollywood Hills near the iconic Hollywood sign. Over 10,000 acres have aleady been burned and five lives have been lost. The fire is moving toward West Hollywood. Tens of thousands have been evacuated, thousands of homes have burned to the ground.

The new brush fire sparked near 2350 North Solar Drive, between Nichols and Runyon Canyon. The fire is being fueled by the brush and dry ground in the area. The Los Angeles Fire Department is working to get near the fire to attempt to put it out. Severe winds are keeping those fires active and moving. The fire is "very dangerous and explosive," said Margaret Stewart with the LAFD. Speaking to KCAL, she urged residents to heed the evacuation orders. These orders are for "immediate evacation" as the winds are over 20 mph.
 

Stewart said that a "well orchestrated team" was working to contain and stop the fire both from the air and on the ground.

The fire in the Hollywood Hills, dubbed the Sunset Fire, is now blazing over 20 acres and has spurred officials to issue new mandatory evacuation orders: Laurel Canyon to Mulholland Drive, 10 the 101 Freeway and down to Hollywood Boulevard. Runyon Canyon is a popular hiking spot in the city and there are many homes in the area that are hard to reach.

The fires that began on Tuesday are beleived to be the worst in Los Angeles history. The water supply is limited, which has been blamed on conservation policies as well as drought, and the fires are uncontained and raging out of control. The Palisades Fire has decimated over 1,000 buildings, including homes and businesses. It is already the most destructive fire in the history in the city, per CalFire, and has cracked into the state's top 20 most devastating fires. Mandatory evacuation orders are now in place for over 100,000 people.

In addition to the newest fire, the Sunset Fire, five other fires have been raging in the area, called the Lidia Fire, Woodley Fire, Palisades Fire, Olivas Fire, and the Hurst Fire, which Stewart said is not yet contained but is moving in that direction.

A lack of rain and an over population of drief vegetation are being blamed for the fires along with the fierce, strong winds, which could reach up to 60 mph. LA Mayor Karen Bass said "We have to resist any, any effort to pull us apart." The fires are expected to continue burning for days.