The U.S. president has accused the state of sending too much water to the Pacific Ocean instead of south toward Los Angeles.

President Donald Trump is criticizing California water policy as he prepares to tour wildfire damage in Los Angeles

One witness described the scene as looking like "you were driving into hell", as authorities say just 14 percent of the Hughes Fire has been contained.

The fire threat remains critical in Southern California, where thousands of residents were under evacuation orders Wednesday as fire crews battled the out-of-control Hughes Fire near Castaic, a suburb in the foothills and mountains of northern Los Angeles County.