AN explosive wildfire has closed down 45 miles of a major California road weeks after a nearby blaze killed eight people.

The fire began on Wednesday and quickly burned nearly eight square miles of timber and brush along the Interstate 5 near the Oregon border.

About 17 lorries were abandoned as flames roared up hillsides.

The blaze was caused by people, fire officials said, but they did not indicate whether it was arson or an accident.