"The fire is growing with a moderate rate of spread and structures are threatened," Cal Fire said as it issued evacuation orders.

Multiple brush fires erupted in San Diego’s North County early Tuesday morning, prompting a fast response from firefighters and mandatory evacuations.

At least 28 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires rage across Southern California.

The fires come as San Diego County mountains and valleys, along with other parts of Southern California, remain under a red flag warning.

Several counties in Southern California faced "critical" fire risks this week, according to an AccuWeather forecast.

Six wildfires are burning in Southern California, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Earlier this month, two significant wildfires ignited in Los Angeles and quickly grew to encompass thousands of acres.

Dangerous winds returned to Southern California on Tuesday as new wildfires broke out and a pair of major Los Angeles-area blazes burned for a third week, while officials made preparations to protect scorched neighborhoods from

Stay informed about the fire situation in Southern California. Find out about the forecast for dangerous winds and the possibility of rain.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Parched Southern California was forecast to face more dangerous winds on Wednesday but could get some badly needed rain this weekend, dampening the prospects of another round of killer wildfires though even a small amount of precipitation could could create new challenges like toxic ash runoff.

Southern California was forecast to face more dangerous winds on Wednesday, but could get some badly needed rain this weekend, which could create new challenges like toxic ash runoff.

Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted the second week of January and roared across the Los Angeles area.