A fast-burning wildfire prompted evacuations and is threatening homes in the Simi Valley area of Ventura County in Southern California.

The Verona Fire near Hemet rapidly grew to 125 acres after first being reported near Verona Road and Juniper Springs Road on Tuesday afternoon. CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department has issued evacuation orders and warnings for multiple Riverside County zones as additional ground and air crews respond to the blaze.

A series of active wildfires burning across California have torched more than 22,000 acres combined as firefighters battle dangerous conditions in at least six major blazes stretching from Santa Barbara County to San Diego County.