Extreme, erratic winds are spreading fire through the densely populated Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, sending residents fleeing, in many cases abandoning cars in the street, with even greater wind speeds predicted for the overnight hours.

A fire in Southern California grew with dizzying speed on Tuesday forcing evacuations and threatening at least 10,000 homes.

As residents fled, firefighters scrambled to corral flames churning along Los Angeles hillsides as winds gained strength Tuesday across Southern California, where forecasters said “life-threatening, destructive” gusts could last for days.