Tuesday, 2:10 p.m. PST Cal Fire says the Auto Fire, which broke out Monday in Ventura County, is 25% contained several hours after fire crews stopped forward progress on the 56-acre blaze.

Strong, damaging Santa Ana winds are expected to bring extreme wildfire danger to Southern California Monday into Tuesday as the landscape remains dangerously starved of rain, and as firefighters continue to work to fully contain wildfires that left at least 27 people dead and destroyed thousands of homes this month.

The Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index is warning Southern Californians of high risk conditions this week. Winds will increase on Tuesday, likely peaking Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, then weakening some on Thursday. It will be critically dry, and fire danger will be high. Be prepared.

Both fires ignited last week during Santa Ana winds, in which strong winds ... according to an update from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

In a state that averages more than 7,500 wildfires a year some California homeowners keep helmets and fire hoses handy. However, the Los Angeles fires demonstrate a new reality: Wildfires in the state are growing larger and more ferocious and burning into suburbs and cities more often, experts told USA TODAY.

Santa Ana winds in Southern California are often-fierce winds that topple power lines and trees and can turn a spark into a raging wildfire.

The fires devastating California are exacerbated by warm winds similar to what Alberta experiences, which is a risk the Calgary Fire Department prepares for.

The Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index is warning Southern Californians of high risk conditions this week. Winds will increase on Tuesday, likely peaking Tuesday night into Wednesday morning ...

California wildfire updates highlight the ongoing devastation as Santa Ana winds drive explosive fire growth across Southern California. Over 12,000 structures are destroyed, and the death toll has risen to 24,

National Weather Service offices across Southern California are warning residents of an increase in weather conditions that are conducive to rapid fire growth. Meteorologists are most concerned about conditions from Monday afternoon through Wednesday morning when winds will be at their peak and relative humidity will be low.

The National Weather Service has issued an extreme weather warning of a life-threatening and destructive windstorm