High winds hit California on Wednesday, sparking a fast-spreading wildfire that destroyed dozens of homes and evacuated thousands of residents, US media reported.
Governor Gavin Newsom urged more than 10,000 residents northwest of Los Angeles to evacuate as 3,500 structures in suburban communities, ranches and agricultural areas around Camarillo were threatened.
The fire grew from less than half a square mile to 16 square miles in just five hours. Officials said they used all resources, including water-dropping helicopters and aircraft dropping fire retardant, but the fire continued to spread.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County fire crews struggled to contain a wildfire near Malibu’s Broad Beach, while authorities briefly shut down Pacific Coast Highway as flames engulfed multi-million dollar properties. Residents were urged to shelter in place.
The weather service said with strongest wind gusts forecast and humidity levels as low as 8 per cent in parts of Southern California on Thursday, the fire would continue to spread.
Forecasters issued severe weather warnings through Thursday for California’s central coast, the San Francisco Bay Area and counties to the north, where strong winds are also expected.
Utilities in California have begun cutting power to prevent more fires. Power lines and other infrastructure have caused several large and deadly fires in recent years. On Wednesday, more than 65,000 customers in Southern California and more than 20,000 in Northern California were without power.
California has experienced devastating wildfires more than once in recent years. The Woolsey Fire in 2018 killed three people and destroyed 1,600 homes. The Thomas Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes and other structures in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
