Santa Ana winds are whipping Southern California on Tuesday, sparking fresh fears that progress made fighting wildfires that have scorched over 40,000 acres and left 27 dead could be reversed and more blazes could break out.

Southern California is expected to be slammed with up to hurricane-strength gusts that could spark a growth in various wildfires through Tuesday morning, officials said.

Firefighters in Southern California are battling two new wildfires that erupted early Tuesday morning, prompting fresh evacuations as dangerous fire weather conditions continue to grip the region. The Lilac Fire was first reported around 1:20 a.