The beachside community of Malibu and at least 75,000 homes in Los Angeles and Ventura counties have been evacuated as multiple wildfires raged across California.

Two fires burning in the region increased in size and scope just before the weekend, as the fire in Woolsey was not contained on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, flames have claimed more than 8,000 acres of land and jumped over the south-side of the 101 freeway, effectively shutting down miles of roadway into the Calabasas area.

“It’s a mandatory evacuation. What that means is, you don’t have to leave, we want you to leave,” Ventura County Fire spokesman Rich Macklan told reporters on Friday. “But people know they can’t get back in once they do leave. We want people to leave early, when firefighters ask you to, because firefighting equipment needs to come in and do [its] work.”

He added: “If you leave early, it helps us tremendously.

Scott McLean, captain of California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told reporters on Friday, one of the fires had expanded to cover nearly 110 square miles, adding it had almost quadrupled in extent overnight.

Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Show all 32 1 /32 Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Firefighters battle a blaze at the Salvation Army Camp in Malibu Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Flames from the Camp fire burn near a home atop a ridge near Big Bend AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Cathy Fallon (centre) who stayed behind to tend to her horses during the Camp Fire, embraces Shawna De Long (left) and April Smith who brought supplies for the horses Reuters Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A helicopter drops flame retardant on a wildfire in Malibu Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures An air tanker drops water on the fire along the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Simi Valley AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures An abandoned car from fleeing residents of Paradise in the Pentz road area EPA Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A firefighter tackles the fire along the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Simi Valley AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A Jack In The Box fast food restaurant burns as the Camp fire moves through Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Yuba and Butte County Sheriff officers label a body bag AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Firefighters hose down trees on Bell Canyon Road, near Malibu AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A fire burns at the Salvation Army Camp Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A firefighting DC-10 makes a fire retardant drop over a wildfire in the mountains near Malibu Canyon Road AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Bins have melted and ballooned in the heat in Magalia, Butte County EPA Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Satellite image taken on 8 November shows plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire stretching across portions of Northern California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Firefighters battle the Camp Fire AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Firefighters battle the Woolsey Fire Reuters Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Deputy Coroner Justin Sponhaltz, of the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, recovers human remains found at a home destroyed by the Camp Fire AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Buildings burn in Paradise, California EPA Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Local residents bring their horses to Zuma Beach and away from the Woolsey Fire in Malibu Reuters Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A used car dealership burns in Paradise, California Reuters Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Yuba and Butte County Sheriff officers inspect a burned vehicle after discovering remains nearby in Concow AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Firefighters battle the flames in Thousand Oaks Reuters Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Search and rescue teams work to evacuate patients from the burning Feather River Hospital in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Embers blow in the wind in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures In Butte County, the sky is filled with the smoke of the Camp Fire EPA Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Firefighters at work in Thousand Oaks Reuters Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures The burned remains of a house and car are left after the Camp Fire in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A shop burns in Paradise, California AFP/Getty

Filmmaker Scott Derrickson was among those who lost their homes to the fire, tweeting out a message to his followers that he was safe, adding, “that’s the important thing.”

Schools were closed in the Las Virgines Unified School District in Calabasas throughout Friday, as Malibu Search and Rescue ordered residents of Las Virgenes Road, and those near the Ventura Freeway and Mulholland Highway, to leave the area.

Malibu has about 13,000 residents and lies along 21 miles of the coast, at the southern foot of the Santa Monica mountain range.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeted the fire was heading to the ocean, punctuating the message with the declaration: “Imminent threat!”

Pepperdine University cancelled classes on Friday at its Malibu and Calabasas campuses, with the latter evacuated.

To the west, in Ventura County, Moorpark College closed due to the fire and Wednesday night’s mass shooting in nearby Thousand Oaks.

California Lutheran University had already cancelled Friday classes due to the shooting. Cal Lutheran said its Thousand Oaks campus is not under evacuation orders but residential students have been put on standby.

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The Thousand Oaks-based Conejo Valley Unified School District also closed all schools.

The Los Angeles and Ventura County fire departments said multiple buildings have been destroyed or damaged, but exact numbers were not available early on Friday.

The flames are being driven by Southern California’s Santa Ana winds, which blow from the northeast towards the coast.