UPDATED 5:50 p.m.
Firefighters continue battling a brushfire above the Porter Ranch area of the San Fernando Valley, which started mid-morning Monday.

The blaze has quickly grown to 2,000 acres, as wind blew up to 45 mph, with gusts reaching 70 mph.

"It is a blowtorch we can't get in front of," said Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Frank Garrido.

Los Angeles Police Department officers called for mandatory evacuation of neighborhoods near the blaze.

The fire is burning southwest, away from the Santa Clarita Valley, fanned by winds from the north.

More details soon here on The-Signal.com.

Meanwhile, click here for the latest from Associated Press.