Fast-growing California wildfire triggers evacuations

A smoky and fast-growing wildfire in windy Southern California has prompted multiple evacuation orders and warnings.

The Springs Fire broke out around 11am on Friday and by 3.30pm had grown to 12sq km.

The cause of the fire east of Moreno Valley in Riverside County is under investigation. It was not immediately known how many households are under evacuation warnings or orders.

The fire was burning in a populated - but not densely so - unincorporated part of Riverside County, in a recreational area near the city of Moreno Valley, which has a population of about 200,000.

The city is 16km southeast of Riverside and 100km east of Los Angeles.

Alex Izaguirre, a spokesperson for the Cal Fire Riverside County, said the wind is "spreading the smoke," prompting concerned calls from residents in neighbouring cities who can see and smell the smoke.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for San Bernardino and Riverside County valleys through Saturday afternoon, with gusts of up to 80km/h expected.

"Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result," the advisory read.