High Winds in Southern California Drive Two Blazes

A wildfire sparked in California’s upscale Malibu beach community on Wednesday was driven by powerful winds sweeping apart the state’s southern region.

The Broad Fire in Los Angeles County, which had shut down Pacific Coast Highway between Web Way and Corral Canyon, grew to 50 acres. It was 0% contained, according to CalFire.

The fire prompted shelter in place orders for some areas.

The cause is under investigation.

The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings due to the high winds, which are creating more fire dangers in the region.

Another fire in Ventura County has burned 1,000 acres and is 0% contained. The Mountain Fire, which also started on Wednesday, prompted evacuation orders in nearby Oxnard as well as evacuation warnings for nearby towns. The fire threatened roughly 3,500 homes in and around the communities of Somis, Camarillo and Saticoy with a combined population 30,000.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Region 9 Administrator authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state in combating the fire.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.