Santa Ana winds are feared by Californians because they are fast-moving, dry and extremely warm—conditions that can turn a tiny spark into a raging blaze that is difficult for firefighters to control.

This windstorm is fueled in part by the powerful Santa Ana winds — dry and warm northeast winds that blow in from inner Southern California towards the coast.

The Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires covered more than 5,600 acres of Southern California as of Wednesday morning. Tens of thousands were under mandatory evacuation orders but the fires increased in size overnight, helped by the blustery Santa Ana winds.

While winds will be weaker on Thursday, another Santa Ana wind event is forecasted for Friday, with wind advisories likely in the Santa Clarita Valley to Point Mugu area from early morning to early afternoon, according to the NWS Los Angeles.

The winds are common in California in the colder months, but they can sometimes help spread dangerous wildfires.

Wildfires tore across the Los Angeles area with devastating force on Wednesday after setting off a desperate escape from burning homes through flames, ferocious winds and towering clouds of smoke.

At least two fires sparked in Southern California on Jan. 7 amid a “life-threatening and destructive” windstorm event that’s sweeping through the region.