Firefighters were struggling to contain a fast-moving wildfire in Ventura County on Thursday that had destroyed many homes — and dangerous winds fueling those flames were expected to continue through Friday.

Santa Ana winds helped propel several fires in the area, but the Mountain Fire exploded Wednesday, sweeping through foothill communities around Camarillo and Moorpark.

It’s unclear exactly how many homes were lost, but the devastation was evident along hillside streets where the burned husks of structures smoldered.

Residents embrace each other as they stand in front of a burned home on Old Coach Drive in Camarillo.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

The National Weather Service has issued a “particularly dangerous situation” red flag alert, warning of “extreme and widespread fire weather conditions” through Friday in southwest California. The alert had not been reinforced to this level in the Los Angeles region since 2020.

The warning was issued for large swathes of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Much of the surrounding area also faced dangerous winds, with standard high wind or red flag warnings issued for the mountains of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, the Inland Empire and parts of Orange County.

The wildfire threatened 3,500 homes and other structures and forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said federal funds had been secured to help fight the fire.

Southern California Edison began cutting off power to customers in areas where its equipment was considered at high risk of starting a wildfire.

A home is engulfed in flames in Camarillo Wednesday amid the wind-driven Mountain Fire.

(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

More than 65,000 Southland utility customers experienced a power outage Wednesday afternoon “due to an increased risk of wildfires.” depending on the utility. The closures, which had affected Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Orange and Santa Barbara counties early Wednesday, were extended to parts of Kern and Tulare counties. Safety cuts were planned for another 254,000 people until at least Thursday, SCE reported.

Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Hugh Montgomery said his team managed to save about a dozen burning homes in the Camarillo Hills, but not without challenges.

The Mountain Fire destroyed homes on both sides of Old Coach Drive in Camarillo.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

“We were inside a structure fire and starting to make progress when the hydrants went dry,” he said. “I think everything is so exhausted because of everyone sucking out the water system.

“It’s very unfortunate that people are losing their homes and their possessions,” he added, “but from what we’ve heard, people are coming out safe and sound, and that’s the thing the most important”.

Thousands of people were evacuated as firefighters struggled to put out the flames.

(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

Red Cross volunteers set up cots and tables as the organization began transforming the temporary evacuation center in Padre Serra Parish into a night shelter. The Salvation Army arrived with hot meals.

The center opened at 10:30 a.m. By late afternoon, around a hundred evacuees had taken refuge inside.

A few arrived with minor burns suffered during the evacuation, said Dave Wagner, a Red Cross public affairs volunteer. Many people at the shelter sought accommodation with friends, family or nearby hotels, with limited success. About 90 people were expected to spend the night there, hoping to return home on Thursday.

Linda Elmo, an evacuee, said the flames moved so quickly that she and her husband had little time to escape. A firefighter knocked on the door, urging her and her husband to “go ahead, go ahead!” »

“It happened so fast,” Elmo said.

Times staff writers Grace Toohey and Noah Goldberg contributed to this report.