Smoke quickly filled the skies over Southern California on Wednesday as a new wildfire, dubbed the Hughes Fire, rapidly grew to more than 5,000 acres, video shows.

The Hughes Fire broke out in the late morning and within six hours charred about 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) of trees and brush near Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area.

Much-anticipated rain could be headed to drought-stricken Southern California this weekend -- but rainfall also brings the threat of landslides.

The funding would help pay for services ranging from shelters for those who have lost their homes and debris removal, among other things.

The Hughes fire has burned through 3,407 acres since it started late Wednesday morning, according to local officials.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has billions of dollars in disaster funds, which are used to reimburse states for eligible recovery efforts after major disasters, contrary to posts online saying FEMA has “no money” to respond to the wildfires in southern California.

Evacuations ordered near Los Angeles as wind-driven wildfire threatens remote communities. Stay updated on the Hughes Fire.

Santa Ana winds will continue whipping through Southern California through Thursday, sparking fears that progress made fighting wildfires that have scorched over 40,000 acres and left 28 dead could be reversed and more blazes could break out.

An unevidenced claim that Russia has offered support to the California wildfires response was read by millions of people online.

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Two new wildfires started in Southern California Tuesday night and into Wednesday, as gusty Santa Ana winds continue to plague the state this week.