The Kenneth fire, in the West Hills area, is expected to “spread rapidly” because of “high winds”, Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley has said.
“This is a reminder that this is a very dynamic situation that can change quickly,” she said during a news conference.
“We’re calling it the Kenneth fire in the West Hills area of Los Angeles on the border of Ventura County. This fire was over 50 acres.”
Speaking at about 1.20am British time, she said the Kenneth fire had the “potential for rapid growth over the next hour”.
Evacuation orders are in place.
Fire damage ‘unprecedented in our state’s history’, California senator says
Losses caused by the fires are “unprecedented in our state’s history”, California senator Adam Schiff has said.
Speaking at a news conference, he said he had spent much of the day talking to people who had “lost everything”.
He commented: “For so many, because of the nature of these fires, they not only lost their home, they lost their whole neighbourhood, they lost their whole community.
“They lost their school and their place of worship. It’s all gone.”
Mr Schiff said he wanted to “express the heartbreak” residents are feeling over “these massive losses”.
Number of dead rises to seven
The number of people who have died in the Los Angeles wildfires has risen to seven, officials have said, according to the Reuters news agency.
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