The blaze broke out on Monday and grew wildly to more than 15 square miles in the hours that followed, consuming vegetation that hasn’t burned in decades according to Ventura County Fire Sergeant Eric Buschow.
Police said that the person who died was a motorist trying to escape from the blaze.
Local authorities in Ventura County said that at least 800 households, about 70 miles (115 km) northwest of Los Angeles, were told to leave under a mandatory evacuation as the 10,000-acre wildfire, took hold.
Ventura County firefighter Jason Hodge told the Los Angeles Times: “We’re really just trying to catch it around the edges and just pinching it off as quickly as we possibly can.”
More than 150,000 homes were without power and at least two structures were destroyed, according to local media.
Strong Santa Ana winds pushed the fire toward the cities of Santa Paula and Ventura, where about 140,000 people live, Ventura County officials said.
The brush fire, known as the ‘Thomas Fire,’ burned dry brush and was was first reported in Steckel Park, north of Santa Paula.
Firefighters said that the fire quickly spread within just a few hours, impacting at least 10,000 acres.
County officials said that Route (road) 150, between Ojai and Santa Paula, have also been closed due to the fires.