woolsey fire images the largest blaze in county history, a harbinger of the catastrophic fire era.

A structure and a motorcycle burn at an RV park during the Fire in Malibu, California, November 10 (Kyle Grillot /The Washington Post/Getty Images)

Malibu, known as the home of many Hollywood stars, has about 13,000 inhabitants and lies along 21 miles of coast at the foot of the South Mountain Range.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department said the fire was heading for the ocean, saying there was "imminent threat!"

"It's a very serious situation," said Buth County director Corrie Honia.

"We are working hard to get people out," she said in a message to citizens. "If you can evacuate, you have to go now."

The safety of our community and our residents is vital to the LASD and all first responders. Please be patient as we ensure that the areas are safe. This is a very dangerous, wind-driven fire incident. With the unpredictability of the winds, please evacuate these affected areas pic.twitter.com/vfQisTysg3

— LA County Sheriff's (@LASDHQ) ١١ نوفمبر ٢٠١٨

A fire official said the fire had put 15,000 homes and 2,000 commercial buildings in "danger of burning.

woolsey fire images

Dead Cactus Field in Malibu after the Fire swept through it. (September Dawn Bottoms/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

photo shows the remains of a beachside luxury home along the Pacific Coast Highway community of Point Dume in Malibu, California, November 11, (Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)

A helicopter drops flame retardant on a wildfire on November 10, Malibu (Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

Ricky Alvarado looks to the charred remains of his home at the Seminole Springs Mobile Home Park, Sunday, Nov. 11(Chris Pizzello/AP Photo)

Burned trees surround a destroyed home leaving only the fireplace in Point Dume in Malibu, on Nov. 11, 2018. (Richard Vogel/AP Photo)

Remains of a burnt car on the side of PCH after the the Fire in Woolsey swept through. (September Dawn Bottoms/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

statues guard the entrance of a wildfire ravaged home Saturday, Nov. 10, in Malibun (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

A firefighting DC-10 makes a fire retardant drop over a wildfire in the mountains near Malibu Canyon Road in Malibu, Calif. on Nov. 11, 2018. (Richard Vogel/AP Photo)

Santos Alvarado, right, and his son Ricky recover a deposit box from their home at Seminole Springs Mobile Home Park, Nov. 11. (Chris Pizzello/AP Photo)

An American flag is draped over the charred of an old pickup truck entering Point Dume along the pacific coast highway in Malibu, Calif., on Nov. 11, (Richard Vogel/AP Photo)

firefighter monitors a wildfire a hillside on Nov. 11, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)