Two fast-moving wildfires in southern California, fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, have destroyed dozens of homes and forced thousands of residents to evacuate.

California was lashed by powerful winds Wednesday that fed a fast-moving wildfire that destroyed homes and forced hundreds of residents to flee.

A Southern California wildfire has destroyed more than 100 structures, mostly homes, in less than two days, fire officials said Thursday as raging winds were forecast to ease.

Powerful winds in California on Wednesday 6 fueled fast-moving wildfires, leading to destroyed homes and hundreds of residents fleeing the affected areas.

California was lashed by powerful winds Wednesday that fed one fast-moving wildfire near multimillion-dollar properties along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu while hundreds of residents fled another fire farther north as forecasters warned of the potential for “extreme and life-threatening” blazes.

Firefighters were gaining ground Monday on a wildfire that raced across more than 32 square miles north of Los Angeles, damaged or destroyed almost 250 homes, businesses and other structures and continued to "creep and smolder" in steep rugged terrain.

Strong winds are expected to return to Southern California Monday, raising fears the Mountain Fire, which has already damaged and destroyed dozens of homes in Ventura County, could continue to spread after calmer weekend weather allowed firefighters to get its containment up to 31%.

Authorities said firefighters battled fierce, howling winds and rescued people as a fast-moving Southern California wildfire exploded in size.