An uncontained wildfire in Riverside County is burning toward the desert as officials say their efforts have been hampered by overnight winds.

The fast-moving fire has burned more than 6,000 acres of land and destroyed 15 structures near Banning, California. Three people have been injured by the flames and hundreds have been forced to flee.

One of the injured was a civilian.

Captain Lucas Spelman told the Los Angeles Times the fire spread so quickly they told residents to shelter in place until they could be safely evacuated from the fire zone.

Steady western winds have been fanning the flames and driving them toward desert regions. Around 600 homes are threatened by the flames and officials have expanded the mandatory evacuation zone. High schools have been turned into emergency evacuation centers.