Steven Snyder stood by his bedroom window, gazing out as his neighborhood burned. Waves of red and orange flames and plumes of black smoke swallowed everything in sight — yet, remarkably, his house stood unscathed.

Firefighters have begun to get a handle on an explosive wildfire that has now destroyed more than 100 homes in Southern California.

Powerful winds in California on Wednesday 6 fueled fast-moving wildfires, leading to destroyed homes and hundreds of residents fleeing the affected areas.

Firefighters were gaining ground Monday on a wildfire that raced across more than 32 square miles north of Los Angeles, damaged or destroyed almost 250 homes, businesses and other structures and continued to "creep and smolder" in steep rugged terrain.

Authorities said firefighters battled fierce, howling winds and rescued people as a fast-moving Southern California wildfire exploded in size.

Crews are battling wildfires on both U.S. coasts with more than 130 homes and structures destroyed out West. Firefighters in New York and New Jersey have been racing to battle dozens of blazes under the driest conditions in decades.