Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate a part of California hit by wildfires for the second day in a row.

The fast-spreading wildfire was first reported early Wednesday near Moorpark, 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, and was intensified by strong winds.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed in a statement that more than 10,000 evacuation orders had been issued, 3,500 homes and other buildings were at risk and federal funding had been secured to help fight the fires.

The National Weather Service said winds were expected to ease significantly by Thursday evening, but warned that high fire danger conditions would remain in place for now.

Video footage and images show large clouds of smoke rising into the sky and covering entire neighborhoods.

Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said Wednesday that the fire was spreading “dangerously quickly,” destroying everything in its path.

“Bushes are burning, grass is burning, hedgerows are burning, agricultural fields are burning and buildings are burning,” he said.

The fire department also confirmed that two people suffered apparent smoke inhalation and were taken to hospitals on Wednesday. None of the firefighters reported any significant injuries.

Officials in several Southern California counties have now urged residents to watch out for fast-spreading fires, power outages and downed trees.

The city of Ventura also asked residents on social media to limit their water use to ensure firefighters have enough water to fight the fire.

More than 20 schools in Ventura County will also be closed Thursday, according to CBS.

The fire started during a wind event in Santa Ana with strong and dry winds, sometimes referred to as devil winds.

Meteorologists had reported gusts of 70 to 80 miles per hour in some parts of Los Angeles County on Wednesday.

According to the Associated Press, the fire grew from just under 0.5 square miles (about 1.2 square kilometers) to more than 16 square miles (62 square kilometers) in just over five hours.

California is a state prone to wildfires. The number of summer burned areas in northern and central California increased fivefold from 1996 to 2021 compared to the previous 24-year period. what scientists have attributed on human-caused climate change.

Not all forest fires can automatically be directly linked to climate change. The science is complicated and human factors, including the way we manage land and forests, also play a role.

But scientists say climate change is making weather conditions that lead to wildfires, such as heat and drought, more likely.