Wildfires engulf California, 1 killed as thousands evacuated from their homes

Thousands have been forced to flee their homes as firefighters battle a fast-moving wildfire in Southern California on Tuesday morning.

The wind-driven Thomas Fire exploded to 31,000 acres with zero percent containment overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning, destroying 150 structures, according to Ventura County fire officials.

Multiple homes in the area of Scenic Way Drive in Ventura were burnt from the air while the Hawaiian Village apartment complex was engulfed in flames in downtown Ventura.

As of 1:50 a.m., 7,786 homes in Ventura County were under mandatory evacuation as the blaze closed in on downtown Ventura, where multiple structures were reportedly burning.

 

Fire officials said 27,000 people were evacuated from their residences.

Vista del Mar Hospital, a behavioral health care facility in Ventura, was razed to the ground by the blaze, ABC7 reporter Sid Garcia confirmed from the scene. All patients and staff were evacuated Monday night.

The fire continued to burn west "out of control," according to fire officials, due to strong east winds that grounded aerial flight crews overnight. One firefighter was injured while battling the blaze.

Fire officials also warned of worsening conditions amid strengthening winds before daybreak Tuesday.

This is a LIVE LOOK near Ventura, CA