A wildfire is rapidly growing in an area northwest of Los Angeles, forcing thousands of people to evacuate.

Initially believed to cover approximately 30 acres, what is now known as the Canyon Fire has rapidly expanded to engulf 1,500 acres across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, based on the latest estimates from CALFire as of 10pm ET.

Ventura County officials report that the fire started on Thursday at about 2pm local time northeast of Piru, an unincorporated town with a population of just over 2,000 people.

The Canyon Fire’s rapid spread was driven by a heat wave that experts had previously cautioned about. On Thursday, temperatures near Lake Piru soared to nearly 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Officials have now said that the fire is moving away from Piru but is moving east toward Interstate 5 in LA County.

This presents a threat chiefly to Hasley Canyon, Val Verde and Hathaway Ranch, as well as the many power lines in that area.

Kathryn Barger, who chairs the Los Angeles County supervisor board, urged citizens to take evacuation orders seriously.

‘Extreme heat and low humidity in our north county have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread with alarming speed,’ Barger said in a statement. ‘If first responders tell you to leave, go—without hesitation. The Eaton Fire showed us how quickly devastation can strike.’

Pictured: A firefighter battled the growing Canyon Fire, which broke out on Thursday afternoon and has already exploded to 1,500 acres

Pictured: One of the 11 helicopters dispatched to fight the fire is seen dropping water near Lake Piru

In Ventura County, evacuation orders were issued for the Lake Piru Recreation area as well as the communities of Camulos and Piru.

In Los Angeles County, residents of Romero, Val Verde, Oak Canyon, Hasley Canyon and Castaic are also under evacuation orders.

Andrew Dowd, the spokesman with the Ventura County Fire Department, told The New York Times that there are an estimated 150 firefighters working to put out the fire.

On top of that, officials have dispatched 11 fixed-wing aircraft and seven helicopters to dump water on affected areas, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

The nearest major city to the fire, Santa Clarita, is still not under evacuation orders, though officials have warned residents to stay away.

For people who are fleeing the flames, an evacuation center has been set up in the East Gymnasium of the College of the Canyons, located at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road in Santa Clarita.

People with animals can drop them off at three different locations. Large pets can be evacuated to Pierce College at 6201 Winnetka Ave in Woodland Hills. 

Small pets can be taken to Castaic Animal Care Center at 31044 Charlie Canyon Road in Castaic or to agoura Hills Animal Shelter at 29525 Agoura Road in Agoura Hills.

Pictured: Firefighters battle the Canyon Fire in Halsey Canyon, a community in Los Angeles County

The Canyon Fire also comes after a series of wildfires in January destroyed more than 16,000 structures, burned around 40,000 acres of land and killed 30 people (Pictured: A man rides his golf cart away from his home as the Canyon Fire rages around him)

The Canyon Fire is now the fourth major wildfire in southern California in the last few weeks, the most recent being the Gifford Fire last week.

That blaze scorched 98,000 acres of land, making it the largest wildfire in California this year.

The Canyon Fire also comes after a series of wildfires in January destroyed more than 16,000 structures, burned around 40,000 acres of land and killed 30 people.

The most destructive was the Palisades Fire, which made areas of the Pacific Palisades, Topanga, Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains completely unrecognizable.

The Eaton Fire was second biggest blaze to ignite during that time, burning more than 14,000 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains while devastating the community of Altadena.

These fires cost $250 billion in damages, according to a report from UCLA in February.

Additionally, the damage was estimated to have dinged Los Angeles County’s GDP by $4.6 billion.

It’s unclear how the Canyon Fire will compare. As of the latest update at 9:34pm ET, it is still zero percent contained.