CNN reported that a number of rapidly spreading wildfires in Southern California had prompted the evacuation of tens of thousands of inhabitants.

The most devastating, the Palisades fire, is destroying houses and closing key roadways as it spreads quickly over Los Angeles. With several evacuations and emergency declarations, authorities are frantically trying to control the situation.

Over 2,900 acres have been destroyed by the uncontrolled Palisades fire, which is burning through almost five football fields per minute. Los Angeles authorities have declared an emergency, stating that the worst is yet to come because of the “tornado-like” gusts that are making the firefighting more difficult.

Fire authorities advised many drivers to leave their cars and evacuate as the fire got closer to important thoroughfares, such as Sunset Boulevard. Marsha Horowitz, who was trapped in the line of the fire on Sunset Boulevard, stated, “The fire department came up and said, Get out of your cars now—because the fire was right up against the cars.” “There were three lanes of cars, and the fire was right down and there was nothing to stop it.” Firefighters started razing abandoned cars to make room for emergency response trucks as the fire spread.

Drivers abandoned their vehicles in the face of the escalating fire in the Malibu and Santa Monica regions, where evacuation orders were also issued. Some were forced to think about taking cover on the beach since the fire had already crossed the roadway and was still posing a danger to the region.

On Tuesday, two more flames broke out in Los Angeles County. The Eaton fire in Altadena, which spread to 1,000 acres in six hours, is a serious threat, while the Hurst fire, which is north of San Fernando, has burned 100 acres. As the Eaton fire drew closer, staff hurried to evacuate people from a Pasadena elder care home, CNN said.

Bobbie Oliver, an evacuee from Pasadena, said, “Even with windows closed, the smoke was unbearable.”

“Our home was filled with smoke, and we could see the fire. Then a police vehicle drove around with a bullhorn, yelling, “Evacuate now.” Oliver described the situation as chaotic, with fallen trees and debris obstructing the streets, but he was able to gather necessary supplies and flee. “It was frantic and downed trees and branches all in the streets,” she said. Strong gusts and police sirens can be heard as she fled to safety in her video.

Overnight, the situation deteriorated as firemen continued to extinguish these fires. Officials warn that severe wind conditions might exacerbate the Eaton fire, which is now at zero percent containment. Marsha Horowitz said, “The cars were directly in the line of the fire.” Emergency personnel are putting in endless effort to prevent the flames from spreading and to shield towns from more damage in spite of these circumstances.

The current flames have also raised awareness of the drought conditions in Southern California, which have been made worse by climate change. Southern California has been very dry, with Los Angeles County now undergoing a moderate drought, whereas Northern California has experienced a lot of rainfall. Conditions for wildfires have been made favorable by a sharp difference in weather patterns. More than 30% of Southern California is now experiencing drought conditions as a result of the region’s lack of rainfall since October 1. The situation is likely to become worse since January is not predicted to see any major rainfall.

Climate change is increasing the intensity and difficulty of controlling wildfires, according to scientists. “Drier fuels are a critical part of fire; the drier the fuel, the easier it is to start a fire,” said Mike Flannigan, a University of Alberta professor of wildland fire.

The lack of rain just makes things more difficult for firemen, and rising temperatures have rendered vegetation more flammable. The area is now very susceptible to the escalating wildfire disaster due to the deadly mix of hotter temperatures and dry weather.

With almost 200,000 houses without electricity in Los Angeles County alone, the flames have caused disruptions to people’s lives across the area. Communities are dealing with the fallout as firefighters work to control the fires, and evacuation attempts are still in progress. As the possibility of further damage hangs over the area, families are being asked to be vigilant and follow evacuation instructions, CNN said.

Officials are urging both national and local cooperation during this emergency to fight the flames and make sure anyone impacted by the wildfires gets the care they need.