The fire in a wilderness area northeast of Los Angeles exploded in size as dry, hot weather Thursday raised the fire risk for large portions of the state.

A wildfire in a wilderness area of central California has exploded in size. Dry, hot weather is raising the fire risk for large portions of the state ahead of the July Fourth holiday.

The fire rapidly spread to over 35,000 acres overnight as it burned through grasslands in a section of the Los Padres National Park. By around 9:30 p.m. PT on July 3, the fire expanded to nearly 52,