Californians forced to flee as wildfires destroy homes and buildings | California

Fast-moving fires broke out across California on Wednesday as high winds hit the state, complicating firefighting, forcing power shutoffs and increasing the risk of further fires.

Just hours after igniting in Ventura County, the mountain fire quickly spread across more than 10,000 acres as flames spread to rural and residential areas near the burning hills, leaving devastation in their wake.

“It has jumped over several ridges and is now burning building after building in neighborhoods,” climate scientist Daniel Swain said in an online broadcast, calling the event a “suburban firestorm” that could be among the most destructive in California this year. “And the fire is still spreading.”

The fire was fueled by gusts of up to 80 mph (130 km/h) and spewed flames and embers up to 2.5 miles away, making combat difficult and dangerous. According to Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner, all firefighting equipment in the area has been thrown at the fire, adding that the fire is “still spreading at a dangerous rate.” As of Wednesday evening, the fire was still 0% contained.

Strong fall winds are common in the state, but coupled with low humidity and parched hillsides covered in dead and dying vegetation cooked away in summer heatwaves, this region was ready to burn.

Although authorities have not yet confirmed the total number of homes and other buildings destroyed by the fire, aerial photos showed rows of charred destruction where neighborhoods once stood, and initial estimates put the number at dozens.

Throughout the day, emergency responders raced through neighborhoods to ensure homes in the fire's path were evacuated and to help those who had not yet evacuated. Footage posted on social media shows officers rushing to push wheelchair-bound seniors from their homes during a frantic escape under dark skies.

Burning buildings could also be seen, along with howling winds and large clouds of smoke as cars and trucks hauling large horse trailers fled under orange skies. Along with residents and businesses rushing to evacuate, the National Weather Service office that serves the Los Angeles region also had to abandon its Oxnard office as the fire approached.

Officials said several people had already been injured and transported to local hospitals and that fire department ambulances had been called to the scene, but details were not released.

“Firefighters have been busy since the beginning getting people out of their homes and saving lives,” Ventura County Fire Department Captain Trevor Johnson said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. Crews struggled with poor visibility from the smoke and had to navigate downed power lines and burning gas lines, as well as intermittent flames fanned by raging winds.

“This is as intense as it gets. I’m sure the firefighters had the hairs on their necks standing on end,” Johnson said.

Officials warned this week that conditions were particularly dangerous, particularly in Southern California, where the landscape was dry.

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned of “extremely critical” fire conditions developing throughout the day and extended the warnings through Thursday morning for portions of L.A. and Ventura counties. “Damaging wind gusts of 60 mph combined with humidity near 10% + critically dry fuels!!” the agency added in a post on X, urging residents to be prepared and exercise extreme caution when dealing with potential ignition sources to prevail.

With forecast gusts between 50 and 100 miles per hour (80 and 161 km/h) and humidity as low as 8%, conditions that could lead to “extreme and life-threatening” fires could prevail in parts of Southern California through Thursday, the weather service said.

Officials in several counties urged residents — particularly in coastal, valley and mountain areas — to watch for fast-spreading fires, power outages and downed trees amid the latest round of notorious Santa Ana winds.

Meanwhile, Pacific Gas and Electric Company shut off power to tens of thousands of accounts across the state to limit possible ignitions during the dangerous conditions.

About 63,370 customers could also be affected in several counties, including Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara, by planned shutdowns that Southern California Edison has enacted to reduce the risk of wildfires. The company reported that another 228,000 were at risk of a power outage through Thursday due to the dangerous conditions.

Forecasters also have issued red flag warnings through Thursday from California's central coast through the San Francisco Bay Area to northern counties.

According to the weather service in San Francisco, sustained winds of 30 miles per hour are expected in many areas, and mountain peaks could experience gusts of over 55 miles per hour.

Two more fires broke out in California on Wednesday, including one in Malibu that forced evacuations and reportedly burned at least one building.

With the risk of spread and new fires remaining high into Thursday and in some areas through the end of the week, the disasters still unfolding across the state were a sign of the state's year-round fire season.

“This is a classic Santa Ana wind event,” Gardner said, noting that these dangerous conditions were expected and prepared for. “Our firefighters and law enforcement are doing everything they can,” he added, urging residents to be vigilant and follow the instructions of those trying to protect them. In fires like these, moments make a huge difference.

“If you get an evacuation order from the sheriff, leave,” he said. “Your homes can be replaced – your lives cannot.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting