More than 5,000 people evacuated in California due to severe wildfires

US authorities evacuated more than 5,000 people in California on Sunday due to severe wildfires.

The New York Times reported, citing the state's civil defense, that the scope of the forest fires has expanded significantly and gotten out of control in southern California, prompting local authorities to issue mandatory evacuation orders for more than 5,000 people.

Wildfires in Southern California expanded significantly on Saturday, spreading across an estimated 17,000 acres by Sunday morning.

According to the newspaper, while firefighters struggle to contain the blaze in the San Bernardino Mountains, they are also dealing with a dangerous heat wave that is expected to affect Southern California and part of the Southwest until at least Monday.

On Sunday, an area stretching from the Pacific Coast to the mountains northwest of Los Angeles, including parts of Santa Barbara County and Ventura County, was under a red flag warning.

The newspaper added, quoting local authorities, that the San Bernardino County fire, known as the "Line Fire," began Thursday in the town of Highland, east of Los Angeles.

According to the local civil defense, its crews were unable to contain the fire, which threatens the lives of more than 8,000 buildings, until Sunday morning.

 According to the newspaper, the continued heat increases the risk of new fires.