Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate in Southern California as the wind-driven Sandy Fire spread rapidly near Simi Valley.

The blaze broke out in hills northwest of Los Angeles and burned more than 1,300 acres, damaging at least one home while strong gusts helped push the flames.

Evacuation orders and warnings affected roughly 10,000 homes, with nearby communities and parts of Los Angeles also placed on alert as smoke filled the region.

Firefighters worked to contain the fire as winds eased later in the day, while officials closed the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library as a precaution, NBC News has reported.

At the same time, another large wildfire burned on Santa Rosa Island, destroying structures and forcing evacuations of National Park Service staff.