Multiple Wildfires Burn Nearly 22,000 Acres Across Southern California

Multiple large wildfires continued to burn across Southern California on Wednesday, fueled by gusting winds, warm temperatures and dry vegetation, authorities said. -Mexico border, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The Sandy Fire ignited Monday in the foothills above Simi Valley and grew to 1,698 acres by Wednesday morning, Cal Fire reported. At one point Tuesday evening, more than 43,700 people were under mandatory evacuation orders or warnings, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Firefighters attacked the blaze from the ground and air as flames moved toward populated areas, officials said. One structure was destroyed and many evacuation orders remained in place as of Wednesday morning. Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd said winds were expected to pick up Wednesday afternoon, shifting from northeasterly in the morning to westerly later in the day.

The Bain Fire, reported Tuesday afternoon in Riverside County, grew to 1,456 acres and was 25 percent contained by Wednesday afternoon, Cal Fire said. Three people suffered smoke inhalation and one person was taken to a hospital with traumatic injuries, according to Los Angeles ABC station KABC.

The Verona Fire ignited nearby in Riverside County and grew to 500 acres by Wednesday morning with 5 percent containment, Cal Fire reported. Residents told KABC that three to four homes had been destroyed.

The Santa Rosa Island Fire, the largest of the fires, burned nearly 17,000 acres on Santa Rosa Island off Santa Barbara County and was 26 percent contained, Cal Fire said. S. Coast Guard said the fire was likely started by emergency flares from a 67-year-old shipwrecked mariner.

The Tusil Fire in San Diego County grew to 1,000 acres and damaged at least one structure, Cal Fire said. The fire forced evacuations on the Campo Reservation and closed Interstate 8 in both directions before one lane each way reopened Wednesday morning.