Tech: Horrifying images of the raging wildfires in Southern California show how rapidly destruction has spread

A series of wildfires have broken out around Southern California — and they're showing no signs of stopping.

A series of wildfires have broken out in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and continue to rage as of late in the day on Wednesday.

The three largest blazes — the Thomas Fire, the Creek Fire, and the Rye Fire — are burning around Ventura, Sylmar, and Santa Clarita, with no signs of stopping. The fires have already destroyed hundreds of homes, and prompted the evacuation of 200,000 people across region.

Because the flames have been fed by strong, dry Santa Ana winds of up to 80 mph, authorities have not been able to contain the fires.

The blazes have caused highways to shut down, schools to close, and halted activity in the region as firefighters work to contain the destruction. California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency, freeing up state funds to help tackle the wildfires.

Below are some of the most horrifying images from the ground.

The fires forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes around Los Angeles and in suburbs throughout the region.

Downtown Santa Paula was darkened by a power outage as strong winds pushed the Thomas Fire across thousands of acres.

The fire continues to threaten homes as it burns along the 101 freeway.

101 remains open, but authorities are advising people to avoid driving there.

The burned remains of cars lined a country road near Santa Paula.

Embers blew from a tree shortly before it fell near burned cars in Santa Paula.

Despite the violence of these images, no fatalities from the fires had been reported as of 2pm PT on Wednesday.

The fires destroyed over 150 structures and are threatening thousands more homes as of Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency crews blocked roadways in Ventura on Wednesday.

Ventura was hit hard by the Thomas fire, the first and largest of the blazes. The remains of a home are seen here after it burned to the ground.

On Wednesday, Ventura resident Bree Laubacher sifted through rubble at her home.

Entire neighborhoods there were leveled.

In this dystopic image, smoke obscures the surroundings of a destroyed apartment complex in Ventura.

In the early morning on Tuesday, the Creek Fire broke out in the Kagel Canyon area in the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles.

A local man was seen praying on Wednesday morning near the Creek Fire in Sylmar.

Thousands of firefighters are working to contain the blazes.

But the fires showed no signs of stopping on Wednesday afternoon.

Dry, gusty Santa Ana winds continue to blow across the region.

A series of wildfires have broken out around Southern California — and they're showing no signs of stopping. Read Full Story