LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fire officials said Sunday they battled fierce, howling winds and rescued people from a fast-moving Southern California wildfire that forced thousands of people to flee, destroying at least 168 structures and damaging 67 others.

Crews increased containment of the Mountain Fire in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, from 26% to 31% Sunday morning. The size of the fire remains around 32 square miles (about 83 square kilometers).

“I am grateful for the number of lives saved and the zero reported deaths,” Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said emotionally at a community meeting Sunday night.

“I know we suffered great damage but thousands of homes were saved and hundreds of lives were saved. “I know we made mistakes, but we will learn from these mistakes,” he said.

Ventura County public safety officials said they were preparing for Santa Ana’s dry, hot and gusty northeast winds. However, the fire Wednesday morning It exploded in size with winds of 80 miles per hour (about 130 km/h) and embers flying from orchards 2-1/2 miles (4 kilometers) away into residential neighborhoods around the Camarillo community.

The cause of the fire is being investigated. Inspection teams continue to assess the damage.

Firefighters made 136 active rescues, officials said Sunday.

Evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings for residents in several parts of Ventura County on Saturday as winds eased and firefighters were aided by moderate temperatures and low humidity.

Agricultural officials, who assessed the damage to agricultural lands where avocados, citrus and fruits were planted, estimated the damage to be 2.4 million dollars. The Ventura County Star reported.

National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Walbrun said northeasterly winds are expected once again Tuesday, but humidity should increase and winds are not expected to be as high as those fueling the fire.

“They won’t be as strong as the winds when this fire started. “But for some of you, you’re going to hear that wind and it can trigger you a little bit,” he said.

The area northwest of Los Angeles has seen some of California’s most devastating fires over the years. The Mountain Fire quickly grew from half a square mile (about 1.2 square kilometers) to more than 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) in just over five hours on Wednesday, with winds reaching 98 kilometers per hour.

Red flag warnings indicating high fire danger conditions ended Thursday across much of the region.

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Ventura County.