Residents Prepare For Worst As Multiple Fires Spread Across Southern California

Extremely dry conditions have led to multiple fires springing up across Southern California this week, and firefighters in the area are doing everything they can to contain them.

A large fire is spreading near the Riverside County town of Banning, as the Santa Ana winds have quickly spread the fire across roughly 3000 acres of land. A large cloud of smoke that stretches for miles hangs over the area and has seriously affected the region's air quality.

"I started coughing," said Calimesa resident David Aaron. "My eyes started watering."

So far around 500 people and several horses have been evacuated from the area, in addition to an unknown amount of people from a nearby mobile home park in Highland Springs. Those evacuations likely bring the total to nearly a 1000 people.

It's been a busy year so far for California firefighters, who have had to respond to 680 fires to date, over 200 more than the average for this time of year. Experts expect the summer months to have higher-than-normal occurrences of fires as well.

A second fire is also getting going, in the area. There is currently a 100-acre fire burning near the 101 Freeway in Camarillo, and residents are getting prepared for the worst.

"What we're telling residents is be prepared to evacuate. There are some homes in the area," Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Bill Nash said, adding that his was one of them. "Take the time now to get ready in case that order comes."

The conditions are making it especially tough to contain the fires, as the humidity in the area has rapidly dropped from the 80's into the teens, and is continuing to decrease.

"This is really dry," says Stuart Seto, a specialist for the National Weather Service. "The fire in Camarillo Springs really jumped up from nothing to 100 acres in no time at all."

Not only that, but other natural elements will make it hard for the more than 200 firefighters responding to the fire.

"Firefighters are working in steep, rocky terrain to stop the spread of the fire," according to a Ventura County Fire update.

So far the National Weather Service has issued a "red flag" fire warning for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and has warned of extreme fire danger for counties spanning from Los Angeles all the way to Santa Barbara.