The Mountain Fire prompted evacuation orders Wednesday for more than 10,000 people as it threatened 3,500 structures in suburban communities, ranches and agricultural areas around Camarillo.
The fire grew from less than half of a square mile to more than 16 square miles in little more than five hours, indicating a rapid escalation fueled by heavy winds.
Officials in several Southern California counties urged residents to be on watch for fast-spreading blazes, power outages, and downed trees amid the latest round of notorious Santa Ana winds.
Firefighters worked to extinguish blazes and douse homes with water as fires approached, but a thick plume of smoke rose into the sky, limiting visibility.
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