Damaging winds, downed trees, power outages and raging wildfires. Santa Ana winds can lead to all of these and more, potentially leading to life-threatening conditions. Knowing what Santa Ana winds are and what to do could save your life.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

High-speed winds this week have the potential to knock over semitrucks and cause other hazardous driving situations. Here's what to know.

Here’s a look at the often-fierce winds that topple power lines and trees and can turn a spark into a raging wildfire.