A rapidly spreading wildfire in Southern California, USA, has burned over 455 acres, prompting authorities to order partial evacuations and report at least one damaged home.
Fire officials reported that the wildfire started shortly after 10:00 a.m. local time on Monday in Simi Valley, Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles.
Within less than two hours, the fire spread rapidly, covering more than 455 acres amid dry conditions and strong winds, key factors driving the wildfire's expansion.
Aerial footage from a local TV station showed at least one home severely damaged by flames, while thick black smoke blanketed the area.
Authorities ordered evacuations for residents in the southern part of Simi Valley as the flames approached increasingly close to residential neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, firefighters and rescue teams are working urgently to control the fire and prevent it from spreading down the hillsides toward the densely populated suburban areas of Thousand Oaks.
So far, there have been no reports of deaths or injuries, but officials remain vigilant as California wildfires typically spread rapidly during hot and dry weather.
/source:AP
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