"The only thing left standing of our house is the two chimneys," Darren Kettle told the Los Angeles Times. "My heart dropped to ... warming temperatures have created wet winters that allowed California's coastal chaparral - areas dominated by small trees ...

Forecasters in California are using some of their strongest language to warn that windy conditions may help fires spread this week.

On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a rare red flag warning for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties alerting of "extreme fire risk."

A fast-moving wildfire in Southern California has rapidly burned through more than 20,000 acres, fueled by powerful northeast winds. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, mobilizing additional firefighting resources and urging Californians to prepare for potential evacuation orders.