Authorities in Southern California have issued mandatory evacuations, as a fierce wildfire is blazing through lands and threatening dozens of homes, oil wells and underground pipelines.

The raging flames, labeled the Solimar Fire, burned through Christmas night and into Saturday. By the time, as many as 500 firefighters were battling the flames.

Crews on 10 to 15 fire engines fought the flames Saturday morning, trying to protect structures and contain "fire that's up and down the hill," Ventura County Fire Capt. Steve Kaufmann said.

The blaze, however, burned 1,200 acres in Solimar Beach and caused the closure of the Pacific Coast Highway. The California Highway Patrol shut down a number of roads in response to the fire.

People in the Solimar Beach area have been ordered to leave their homes, according to the county fire department. It threatens an estimated 30 homes.

The inferno is also raging through an area with an extensive network of oil wells and underground pipelines, officials said, adding that none of the wells or pipelines had been ignited by the flames.

"The fire is being pushed by a strong northwest wind," said the Ventura County's emergency information website. "We're seeing fire embers all over the place."

It said a Red Cross shelter has been set up for residents.