What you should know about fires in California

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(CNN9 - A fast-growing, wind-driven forest fire spread Thursday night in the northern Los Angeles area, forcing hurried evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people.

Saddleridge's fire jumped across highways 210 and 5 overnight. All Porter Ranch and Oakridge farms are among the areas under mandatory evacuation.

Meanwhile, approximately 300,000 residents remain without power after Pacific Gas & Electric intentionally cut power to prevent forest fires caused by high winds that break down electrical power equipment.

The Saddleridge fire burns 3,035 hectares

The Saddleridge fire, one of the multiple forest fires that erupted in northern Los Angeles during the night, has expanded to cover 3,035 hectares, according to the city of Santa Clarita.

Firefighters said 25 structures were destroyed and 40 schools closed due to poor air quality.

In addition to 1,000 firefighters fighting the fire, planes, bulldozers and engines are being used to contain the fire, said Al Poirier, deputy head of Emergency Operations at the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The fire is only contained in 13%.

Teen describes the escape from forest fires: "It's shocking, it's sad, it's scary"

Andro Mammo, a 17-year-old Porter Ranch resident, was in bed when he heard his father shout "It's in our backyard, it's in our backyard."

He told CNN that his father reacted "in a way he had never heard him scream before."

When he looked outside and saw the devastating forest fire that burned his backyard, his first instinct "was not to grab clothes or anything, but to go for my little brother and my little sister who were asleep at the time." Then he took his brothers to his grandmother's house while his parents packed.

"It was frightening. Traumatic. I don't even want to imagine what my little brother and little sister are thinking right now, "said Andro." Because if I'm terrified of all this, imagine what they are thinking at age 11 and 7. Scary I'm looking around right now, and I literally drove this way yesterday, and now I see it as it is, you can't even… It's shocking, it's sad, it's scary. ”

Andro called the efforts of firefighters working to contain the flames as "incredible."

"If it weren't for them, we wouldn't have a house right now," he said.

This video shows the burning of forest fires in California

Kawanna Lewis said she had just arrived home from work Thursday night in Sylmar, California, when she saw the fire nearby.

Lewis didn't have time to grab anything before evacuating with his mother, cousin and son and daughter. They stayed at a hotel in Granada Hills.

View this post on Instagram

We made it out! But my home is right behind that Freeway 😫😫 #SylmarFire

A post shared by Oracle Jayne Doe 👑 (@oraclejd) on Oct 11, 2019 at 9:06 am PDT

Chef José Andrés' team is cooking for fire evacuees

The famous chef José Andrés said his organization, World Central Kitchen, is "preparing and cooking in California" for those evacuated from the Saddleridge fire.

"We are here to support what we can," Andrés tweeted.

We are up and cooking in California… first meals ready soon! @MayorOfLA @RedCrossLA @LAFD @VCFD @CAL_FIRE @Cal_OES We are here to support however we can! #SaddleridgeFire https://t.co/boi2kzlkcm

- José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) October 11, 2019

Andrés is famous for his humanitarian feeding efforts in areas affected by the disaster.

With information from Sara Sidner, David Williams and Carma Hassan of CNN

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