Wildfire evacuations in Southern California

Thick smoke flows over the ocean coast from the Solimar brush fire that started early Saturday morning in Ventura County, California December 26, 2015.

About 600 firefighters are battling the blaze, the newspaper reported.

The fast-moving blaze burned into and through Christmas night and into Saturday, with more than 1,100 acres torched as of 7:30 a.m. (10:30 a.m. ET), according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

A stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway was shut down by the California Highway Patrol, reports NBC Los Angeles. The fire had also stopped rail traffic through the region. Residents living in Faria Beach were placed under voluntary evacuations.

Officials said multiple fire agencies were assisting with the fire, including the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the San Bernardino County Fire Department. The Red Cross set up a shelter in Carpinteria at the Veteran’s Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Avenue.

Alternative routes include taking the Highway 33 up to State Route 150 towards the 101 Freeway in Santa Barbara.

People who left their homes were asked to make sure their doors and windows were closed first.

“We’re seeing fire embers all over the place”, Kaufmann said.

The area has been under a high wind warning as gusts in the area reached 55 miles per hour overnight.

“Make sure everything is buttoned up tight”, Kaufmann said.