A wind-driven wildfire charred dozens of acres in the sparsely developed northeastern reaches of San Diego County, damaging structures and forcing pre-dawn evacuations before crews could gain the upper hand on the flames Wednesday.

"The fire is growing with a moderate rate of spread and structures are threatened," Cal Fire said as it issued evacuation orders.

A wind-driven wildfire charred dozens of acres in a sparsely developed area south of Pala Mesa on Tuesday, damaging structures and forcing pre-dawn evacuations before crews could gain the upper hand on the flames.

Earlier this month, strong Santa Ana winds created the ideal conditions ... Diego County in the early hours of Tuesday. The Lilac Fire was burning near Old Highway 395 and Lilac Road in Bonsall, California, 47 miles north of San Diego.

Fire danger persists with Santa Ana winds in the forecast Wednesday into Thursday as firefighters work to contain the Palisades, Eaton, Lilac, and Clay Fires in Southern California. However, there is some hope on the way in the form of raindrops and a wind shift this weekend.

Several counties in Southern California faced "critical" fire risks this week, according to an AccuWeather forecast.

As firefighters descended on the Lilac Fire in Bonsall early Tuesday, several crews helping battle the blaze were from outside San Diego County and even California, with many hailing from more than 1,

The Lilac fire was reported around 12:45 a.m. and by 5 a.m. had charred 80+ acres west of I-15 south of SR-76. Forward progress stopped around 10 a.m. It was one of three fires in North County

A rare Particularly Dangerous Situation warning has been issued for Southern California as a powerful and potentially damaging Santa Ana wind event​ is expected.

As wildfires continued to burn in Los Angeles, three fires broke out in San Diego County, prompting evacuation orders and warnings.

Wildfires in Southern California prompt evacuations and school closures as Santa Ana winds exacerbate conditions. Communities remain on high alert.- Watch Video on English Oneindia

Dozens of people are believed to have died in the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have burned down whole swaths of communities