Strong Santa Ana winds blowing through Orange County have caused a brush fire to explode in size. What is now being called the Silverado Fire has already burned thousands of acres and now approximately 60,000 people near the city of Irvine have been ordered to evacuate:

The Silverado Fire had charred at least 2,000 acres in and around the bedroom community of Irvine, about 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, by 11 a.m. PT, the Orange County Fire Authority said.

About 60,000 people, living in 20,000 homes, are in range of the fire and were ordered to evacuate. Firefighters are dealing with steady winds of between 20 mph and 30 mph, gusting up to 65 mph, authorities said.

KTLA has more on how quickly this fire has grown:

The blaze, dubbed the Silverado Fire, erupted in the Santa Ana Mountains around 6:45 a.m. at Santiago Canyon and Silverado Canyon roads. The flames spread to the south and southwest as forecasters predicted gusts of up to 60 to 70 mph at the location.

The fire was initially reported at 10 acres, but it had grown to 4,000 acres by 1 p.m., according to the Orange County Fire Authority. It’s 0% contained.

The Orange County Fire Authority has published some images and video of the fire this morning:

Mandatory evacuations for Orchard Hills on Irvine Blvd: From Bake to Jamboree. Ground and Air support are currently battling the flames. The 241 is closed from Santiago to the 133. Structures are threatened. #SilveradoFire

Media staging at the entrance of Irvine Regional Park. pic.twitter.com/hpB6c2k0Cr

— OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) October 26, 2020

Flames have jumped the 241. #SilveradoFire

Approximately 60,000 people are evacuating the Irvine area. Check your evacuation location here: https://t.co/gAGlMlPUL2 pic.twitter.com/RhVJu7g0us

— OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) October 26, 2020

In this clip you can really appreciate the strength of the winds that are driving the fire:

Road closures for #SilveradoFire:
•Portolla from 241 to Jamboree
•241 from the 133 to Santiago
•Santiago Canyon Rd from Cooks to the 241 pic.twitter.com/s7Gg1wjAvO

— OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) October 26, 2020

I live about half an hour north of the fires and the winds here have been gusting all morning. A couple of hours ago I took down the flag attached to the front of my house because I was concerned the winds were going to rip it off the house and send the flag and the pole into my neighbors cars.

#SilveradoFire Update:
• 4,000 acres
• 0% containment
• 500 personnel battling the fire

For evacuation and shelter information visit https://t.co/B1Oah5k8G8 pic.twitter.com/PzxuixON5j

— OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) October 26, 2020

Police drove thru threatened neighborhoods this morning warning everyone to “leave now.”

Yo this fire is actually crazy wtf #Silveradofire #irvine pic.twitter.com/Rxbx67i6uc

— Jayden T (@WashedJayden) October 26, 2020

One of the people trying to evacuate posted video of the traffic jam this caused. Toward the end of this clip you can see the trees on the side of the road blowing back and forth.

These winds are crazy! Never seen anything like it! People packed their cars with loved ones including pets. And of course we are stuck in traffic because everyone is trying to leave and not burn #silveradofire #SantaAnaWinds pic.twitter.com/BCvnw2JG0k

— Thomas Anthony (@_thomas_anthony) October 26, 2020

Another view of the skyline:

North Irvine fire pic.twitter.com/Eo3W52wuEv

— Thomas Meyer (@tmeyeratplay) October 26, 2020

And as mentioned above the fire is not at all contained and is still spreading into Irvine:

Silverado Fire has hit the heart of Irvine at the 133 & Irvine Blvd #SilveradoFire pic.twitter.com/mHuJ1VQyUG

— Miron Lulić (@MironLulic) October 26, 2020

Unbelievable. HWY 133 shutdown in Irvine, California. Fire crews can’t get to the neighborhood on the other side as hurricane-force winds fuel a fire storm. @CBSEveningNews #SilveradoFire pic.twitter.com/DY6SEBv6wF

— Jonathan Vigliotti (@JonVigliotti) October 26, 2020

In the 2nd clip below you can see some people are stopping to look:

https://twitter.com/shanermurph/status/1320822996727201792

Unfortunately, this story isn’t over yet. I’ll update this post as things develop throughout the afternoon.