A. Southern California forest fire It destroyed 132 structures, mostly homes, in less than two days as high winds were predicted to ease, fire officials said.

The fire started Wednesday morning in Ventura County and is 5 percent contained, reaching approximately 83 square kilometers. The cause has not been determined.

Ten people were injured, Ventura County sheriff James Fryhoff said. Many suffered smoke inhalation or other non-life-threatening injuries.

Fire officials said 88 other structures were also damaged but did not say whether they were burned or affected by water or smoke.

Nearly 10,000 people remained under evacuation orders Thursday as the fire continued to threaten nearly 3,500 structures in suburban neighborhoods, farms and farmlands around Camarillo in Ventura County.

County fire officials said crews working the steep terrain with the support of helicopters dropping water were focused on protecting homes on hillsides on the fire’s northeastern border near the city of Santa Paula, home to more than 30,000 people.

Officials in several Southern California counties urged residents to be alert for fast-spreading fires, power outages and downed trees during the latest round of Santa Ana winds.

Santa Anas are dry, warm, gusty northeasterly winds that blow from the interior of Southern California toward the coast and offshore, moving in the opposite direction of the normal overland flow carrying moist air from the Pacific.

They usually appear in the autumn months and continue throughout the winter and into early spring.

Ariel Cohen, the US National Weather Service’s meteorologist in charge of Oxnard, said Thursday evening that Santa Ana winds had diminished in lower elevations, but strong winds continued in higher elevations.

Red flag warnings indicating high fire danger conditions have ended in the area outside the Santa Susana Mountains, Mr. Cohen said. Warnings in the mountains will end at 11:00 on Friday.

Santa Ana winds are expected to return by early to mid-next week, Mr. Cohen added.

The fire was burning in an area that has seen some of California’s most destructive fires in years. The fire quickly grew from about 1.2 square kilometers to more than 141 square kilometers in just under five hours on Wednesday.

An area of ​​approximately 83 square kilometers was mapped Thursday evening, and Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in the county.

The Ventura County education office announced that more than a dozen school districts and campuses in the county were closed Thursday, with several more expected to close Friday.

Utilities in California have begun shutting down power to equipment during high winds and extreme fire danger following a series of large and deadly wildfires sparked by power lines and other infrastructure in recent years.

Southern California Edison said Thursday that nearly 70,000 customers were without power in five counties due to increased risk. – Access point