Residents of more than 10,000 homes were ordered to evacuate Monday as a brush fire in Southern California's Ventura County quickly grew to more than 2 square miles.

Wind gusts over 30 mph drove the Sandy Fire, which was reported about 10 a.m. in hills above Simi Valley, a city of more than 125,000 people about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

It had damaged at least one house, the Ventura County Fire Department said.

Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for several neighborhoods in Simi Valley.

Andy VanSciver, a public information officer with the Fire Department, told the Washington Post the winds pushing the fire had reversed and created a noticeable shift in the temperature and humidity.

“This is the largest blaze we have had this fire year,” VanSciver said, noting that California no longer has fire seasons: “We are now in a year-round season. And we are transitioning into peak fire season.”

The cause of the fire is not yet known and is under investigation.