A massive wildfire has spread to more than 10,000 acres in Southern California, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate and leaving thousands more without power.
Two fast-moving fires broke out Wednesday morning, forcing the evacuation of 10,000 residents in the Somis and Camarillo areas and forcing the relocation of horses and other livestock to the Ventura County Fairgrounds. According to KTLA.
Officials said the fires, both the larger one and the more localized Broad Fire, were 0% contained as of Wednesday evening.
Southern California Edison cut power to Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties on Wednesday as wildfires spread across the region, aided by Santa Ana winds, the newspaper said.
Fires caused by one of the most extreme wind events in recent years have put more than 3,500 homes and businesses at risk. According to the Los Angeles Times.
Wind speeds have reached 60 miles per hour, preventing firefighters from receiving air support from water cannon helicopters and planes. According to ABC News.
“It's like trying to put out a torch with a water gun,” said Captain Tony McHale of the Ventura County Fire Department. KABC TV interview.
According to KTLA, Ventura County officials said several people were being treated at local hospitals for smoke inhalation.
“We know homes were lost, homes were damaged, and people were injured, but we don't have numbers,” spokesman Scott DeTore told ABC News.
The National Weather Service has issued an unusual red alert for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including Malibu and the San Gabriel Mountains, where wind gusts could reach nearly 160 mph, ABC reported.
ABC News reported that a second wildfire broke out in the Malibu area of Los Angeles County on Wednesday. The blaze, dubbed the Broad Fire, burned 50 acres southwest of Pacific Coast Highway near Pepperdine University. According to CAL Fire.
Investigations into the cause of each fire are ongoing, according to CAL Fire.
FEMA officials announced that federal funds will be used to support wildfire response.
