Several people were burned, including one firefighter, US media reported.
A fire has engulfed more than 1,200 hectares in Pacific Palisades, a luxury neighborhood of multimillion-dollar homes in the Santa Monica Mountains, shutting down a major highway and blanketing the area with thick smoke.
Another large fire is raging near Altadena, north of Los Angeles. There, the flames have spread over an area of 890 hectares, while the third fire is burning in the vicinity of Santa Clarita.
Dozens of houses caught fire in Pacific Palisades. Actor James Woods posted a video of burning trees and brush near his home before evacuating.
Traffic jams formed on the roads as residents rushed to leave the area. Some people abandoned their cars to leave on foot.
The Pacific Palisades fire broke out on Tuesday morning and spread rapidly due to strong winds. Seasonal Santa Ana (St. Anna) winds have hit the region, which could become the biggest storm in a decade. Wind gusts of up to 160 kilometers per hour (44 meters per second) are forecast for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Critical fire warnings are expected to remain in effect until Thursday evening.
US President Joe Biden was in Los Angeles on Tuesday and had planned to announce the creation of two new national monuments, but this announcement was canceled due to strong winds.
Other events have also been canceled, including the premiere of singer-actress Jennifer Lopez’s latest film, Unstoppable, and the Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, which were scheduled to be announced in person, have been replaced by a press release.
Trees burned near Getija Villa, but the museum building itself and the collections were not damaged. Founded by US oil magnate Jean-Paul Getty, the educational center and art museum is one of the world’s richest art museums.
Fires are an integral part of the western United States and play a vital role in natural processes. But scientists say that human-caused climate change is changing the nature of the weather. Southern California experienced two decades of drought, followed by two extremely wet years that led to rapid vegetation growth, and the region is now rich in material to burn.