Ventura County fire: Thousands forced to evacuate

Southern California fires growing quickly, forcing thousands to evacuate By Paul Vercammen, Jason Hanna, Madison Park and Steve Almasy, CNN Updated 2344 GMT (0744 HKT) December 5, 2017 California Ventura County wildfire orig_00004108 Wildfire 1 Homeowners cry as they return after fire Flames overtake a structure in the Napa wine region on October 9. Flames engulf California wine country Mandatory evacuation orders in Los Angeles orig-pkg-firehawk-helicopter_00011514.jpg California's secret firefighting weapon wildfire fighting converting c130s orig_00001418.jpg Military planes on firefighting duty california wildfires orig mg_00001408.jpg Wildfires spawn 'firenadoes' in CA California wildfires tree fallers orig_00000229.jpg Tree fallers get to work after California wildfires What it looks like when a wildfire rips through town California Ventura County wildfire orig_00004108.jpgNow Playing California fire scorches Ventura County Roommates film harrowing drive through flames 01 michella flores las vegas california fire Woman survives massacre, returns to burned home Watch as fire burns inside hollow tree sonoma county bodycam Bodycam video shows dramatic wildfire rescue couple pool wildfire 01 They hid in pool for 6 hours as flames raged Inmates fight fires in California kriel pkg_00011304.jpg Firefighters, inmates fight California wildfires Wildfire 2 California wildfires scorch area bigger than NYC Wildfire 1 Homeowners cry as they return after fire Flames overtake a structure in the Napa wine region on October 9. Flames engulf California wine country Mandatory evacuation orders in Los Angeles orig-pkg-firehawk-helicopter_00011514.jpg California's secret firefighting weapon wildfire fighting converting c130s orig_00001418.jpg Military planes on firefighting duty california wildfires orig mg_00001408.jpg Wildfires spawn 'firenadoes' in CA California wildfires tree fallers orig_00000229.jpg Tree fallers get to work after California wildfires What it looks like when a wildfire rips through town California Ventura County wildfire orig_00004108.jpg California fire scorches Ventura County Roommates film harrowing drive through flames 01 michella flores las vegas california fire Woman survives massacre, returns to burned home Watch as fire burns inside hollow tree sonoma county bodycam Bodycam video shows dramatic wildfire rescue couple pool wildfire 01 They hid in pool for 6 hours as flames raged Inmates fight fires in California kriel pkg_00011304.jpg Firefighters, inmates fight California wildfires Wildfire 2 California wildfires scorch area bigger than NYC Story highlights Rye Fire grows from 1,000 acres to 5,000 About 27,000 people are under mandatory evacuation in Ventura County Ventura, California (CNN)Thousands fled their homes as several incredibly fast-moving brush fires pushed by howling Santa Ana winds scorched parts of Southern California. "Fires are breaking out across the so. Cal. Region... Be fire safe. Firefighters are working very hard to minimize damage to property. Evacuations are taking place in many places in Southern California," the Ventura County Fire Department tweeted. By Tuesday afternoon, none of the biggest blaze had been contained and it had grown to 50,000 acres -- about 78 square miles -- in just 19 hours. Some homes were ablaze in the northern part of Ventura, a city of more than 100,000 on the Pacific coast. The fire burned 31,000 acres in the first nine hours. Photos: Wildfire spreads in Southern California The fire burned 31,000 acres in the first nine hours. Hide Caption 5 of 9 A woman evacuates her home as the fire burns in Santa Paula on December 5. Photos: Wildfire spreads in Southern California A woman evacuates her home as the fire burns in Santa Paula on December 5. Hide Caption 6 of 9 Firefighters battle the fire as it burns near homes in Santa Paula on December 5. Photos: Wildfire spreads in Southern California Firefighters battle the fire as it burns near homes in Santa Paula on December 5. Hide Caption 7 of 9 A man prepares to evacuate his Santa Paula home on December 5. Photos: Wildfire spreads in Southern California A man prepares to evacuate his Santa Paula home on December 5. Hide Caption 8 of 9 Firefighters work to put out a blaze engulfing homes in Ventura. The fast-moving fire forced sheriff's deputies to scramble into neighborhoods and knock on doors to warn residents to evacuate. Photos: Wildfire spreads in Southern California Firefighters work to put out a blaze engulfing homes in Ventura. The fast-moving fire forced sheriff's deputies to scramble into neighborhoods and knock on doors to warn residents to evacuate. Hide Caption 9 of 9