A wind-whipped Southern California brush fire The fire, which exploded across more than 20,000 acres in about 24 hours, destroying homes and prompting mass evacuations, broke out of control Thursday as Gov. Gavin Newsom gathered state and federal resources to fight the blaze.

The governor declared a state of emergency in Ventura County as firefighters try to gain the upper hand on the Mountain Fire, which has burned 20,484 acres and destroyed an undetermined number of homes since it started near the town of Camarillo. By Thursday evening, the fire was 5% under control.

The November fire occurred amid unseasonably warm weather and strong Santa Ana winds. The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for Ventura and Los Angeles counties that will remain in effect until at least Friday morning.

Aerial views from ABC Los Angeles station KABC He showed rows of destroyed houses in the towns of Camarillo, Moorpark and Somis.

Ventura County emergency officials said several people were taken to hospitals to be treated for smoke inhalation and other injuries. Some victims were trapped in their cars as they fled the fast-moving flames, authorities said.

At a press conference Thursday evening, Ventura County Fire officials said 88 structures were damaged and 132 structures, mostly homes, were destroyed.

There were 10 confirmed injuries, most due to smoke inhalation, and all were non-life-threatening, officials said.

Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff said at least 14,000 people have been ordered to evacuate.

Newsom announced Wednesday that he was mobilizing resources statewide to help fight the fire and received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to make vital resources available to extinguish the blaze.

The California Office of Emergency Services said 48 pieces of firefighting equipment, nine helicopters and more than 100 personnel were prepared in advance in 19 counties across California ahead of hazardous fire weather forecasts for many parts of coastal and inland California.

“This is a dangerous fire that is spreading rapidly and threatening lives,” Newsom said in a statement. “State resources have been mobilized to protect communities, and this federal support from the Biden-Harris Administration will provide state and local firefighters with the resources they need to save lives and property as they continue to battle this aggressive wildfire.”

The Mountain Fire is one of two wind-driven fires in Southern California, prompting the NWS to issue red flag warnings for Los Angeles and Ventura counties in November warning of “extreme fire risk” from Malibu to the San Gabriel Mountains. North of Los Angeles where winds can gust up to 100 miles per hour.

“A very strong, widespread, and prolonged Santa Ana wind event will bring extremely critical fire weather conditions to many areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties Wednesday through Thursday,” according to the NWS alert.

The cause of the fire continued to be investigated on Thursday.

Fixed-wing aircraft are unable to assist in firefighting efforts due to extreme wind conditions, according to the Ventura Fire Department, which said ground crews, helicopters and mutual aid resources are “actively working to protect lives and property.”

Wide Fire

A second wildfire — called the Broad Fire — broke out in the Malibu area of ​​Los Angeles County on Wednesday, burning at least 50 acres southwest of South Malibu Canyon Road and the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Malibu. CAL Fever.

The fire was 15% contained Wednesday evening, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Local fire officials warned residents to prepare for possible evacuations and PCH was closed in both directions between Webb Road and Corral Canyon.

Santa Ana wind conditions

Santa Ana winds in the region, named after the Santa Ana Canyon in Southern California, bring harsh, dry and warm winds blowing from the desert, drying out vegetation and increasing the danger of wildfires.

The prolonged Santa Ana wind event is expected to peak late Wednesday, become moderate on Thursday, and then fade to light offshore winds on Friday.

Northeast winds are expected to move 20 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph in Southern California’s canyons and gorges; In areas more prone to wind, higher winds are expected.

Another wave of winds is expected to peak by Thursday morning, with northeasterly winds increasing to 20 to 30 mph and reaching gusts of 50 mph before weakening significantly by Thursday afternoon.