"The fire is growing with a moderate rate of spread and structures are threatened," Cal Fire said as it issued evacuation orders.

Multiple brush fires erupted in San Diego’s North County early Tuesday morning, prompting a fast response from firefighters and mandatory evacuations.

At least 28 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires rage across Southern California.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Parched Southern California was forecast to face more dangerous winds on Wednesday but could get some badly needed rain this weekend, dampening the prospects of another round of killer wildfires though even a small amount of precipitation could could create new challenges like toxic ash runoff.

Two wildfires ignited early Tuesday in San Diego, California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. The Lilac Fire had burned about 20 acres at a moderate rate of speed and was zero percent contained, Cal Fire’s San Diego department said in a statement posted on social media.

A vegetation fire broke out in Bonsall in North San Diego County, damaging multiple structures early Tuesday morning.

Dangerous winds returned to the region Tuesday as new wildfires broke out in San Diego and a pair of major Los Angeles-area blazes burned for a third week, while officials made preparations to protect scorched neighborhoods from toxic ash runoff ahead of potential rain this weekend.

Dangerous winds and drought will create extreme fire risk across Southern California Tuesday, putting more than 12 million people in the path of conditions that would allow blazes to spread quickly as the region holds out hope for rain.

Dangerous winds returned to Southern California on Tuesday as new wildfires broke out and a pair of major Los Angeles-area blazes burned for a third week, while officials made preparations to protect scorched neighborhoods from toxic ash runoff ahead of potential rain this weekend.

Winds picked up on Tuesday in Southern California and at least a couple of new wildfires broke out as firefighters remained on alert in extreme fire weather two weeks after two major blazes started that are still burning in the Los Angeles area.