California wildfire spreads rapidly in Ventura, burns over 2 hectares in just one hour

Firefighters in California are battling multiple wildfires across the Los Angeles region, with a new blaze igniting in Ventura County on the evening of Jan. 13. The wildfire, driven by strong seasonal Santa Ana winds, rapidly spread, burning over 2 hectares within just one hour, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Reports indicate that by 9:30 p.m. local time, the fire had already approached a major highway in the area, posing significant risks to transportation and local communities. The notorious Santa Ana winds, often referred to as "Devil Winds," are fueling the fire's rapid spread. 

The Los Angeles region remains under a "red flag warning" for wildfires, with the US National Weather Service predicting wind gusts of up to 120 km/h by the early hours of Jan. 14, local time. 

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