Crews fighting the rapidly spreading Canyon Fire not far from Los Angeles reported that the blaze is 25% contained, the California fire protection authority Cal Fire said on Friday. The fire broke out on Thursday about 60 kilometres north-west of downtown LA and grew to an area of almost 20 square kilometres within a few hours.

A day after the Canyon Fire ignited in Ventura County, it has torched nearly 5,000 acres of land and triggered evacuation orders.

Close to 17,000 people in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties were ordered to evacuate due to the fast-moving Canyon Fire, according to New York Times reports.