The Clay Fire has sparked in Riverside County on Tuesday night as wildfires continue to plague Southern California.

Six wildfires are burning in Southern California, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

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.

Reduction to an extra sum for fire resilience drew outrage while the general fund for fire prevention continues to swell under Newsom's leadership.

Cal Fire’s total base wildfire protection budget has nearly tripled over the past 10 years, from $1.1 billion in 2014‑15 to $3 billion in 2023‑24.

Non-native grasses and eucalyptus trees brought to California centuries ago for agriculture and landscaping have reshaped the state’s fire dynamics.

Just over $100 million was cut from California's wildfire and forest resilience fund in the latest budget, though total spending has grown sharply since 2014.

Over two weeks into the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, California, at least 28 fatalities have now been confirmed, up from an earlier count of 27, the country medical examiner's office said Tuesday. Four wildfires are still burning across Los Angeles County, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Santa Ana winds will continue whipping through Southern California through Thursday, sparking fears that progress made fighting wildfires that have scorched over 40,000 acres and left 28 dead could be reversed and more blazes could break out.

The Hughes Fire, reported shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday near Castaic Lake, prompted evacuation of a 280-square-mile area north of Los Angeles. The map above shows the mandatory evacuation area in red and the approximate perimeter as a black line.

Strong Santa Ana winds have fueled multiple wildfires across Southern California, forcing thousands of residents to flee from their homes.