Homes were burned and thousands evacuated after a fast-moving wildfire sprang up in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles.

The families who evacuated at a moment’s notice, some who say they have now lost their homes, must deal with other losses that can also be devastating.

Overnight, the area scorched by the blaze - dubbed the Mountain Fire - remained at about 20,000 acres (8,100 hectares) in ...

Southern California firefighters working to contain a wildfire that has destroyed 132 structures in two days could be assisted by a forecast of fierce wind gusts easing early Friday, officials said.