More than 2 million people were left in the dark (and the smoke) on Wednesday as fires raged around Southern California.

A windstorm that is generating gusts up to hurricane strength is fanning three wildfires in Southern California, sending thousands of residents fleeing their homes as the blazes engulf residences and

The Palisades Fire, located on the coast of Los Angeles, has grown to nearly 16,000 acres, officials said Wednesday, as authorities say Los Angeles County’s uncontained flames continue spreading—prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.

Hundreds of thousands are without power in California as the powerful Santa Ana winds continue to cause the spread of multiple wildfires. There are over 249,159 people without power in California, according to the USA TODAY power outage tracker.

Before and after photos of the deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area have sent tens of thousands scrambling for safety and decimated neighborhoods.

"Wildlife is incredibly resilient," a biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said, noting that "many species adapted to endure it."

Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted Tuesday and roared across the Los Angeles area, destroying hundreds of homes and killing at least five people.