Neverland Ranch, former home of Michael Jackson, sits on path of Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Firefighters battling flames amid a heat wave in Southern California are struggling to control a wildfire that exploded over the weekend to more than 16,000 acres, prompting evacuations and threatening homes including Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, authorities said.

The Lake Fire raging in Santa Barbara County near the Los Padres National Forest was 0% contained as of Sunday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL FIRE).

The Lake Fire is one of 21 wildfires burning in California on Sunday, CAL FIRE said.

Fire in Santa Barbara County Lake

The wildfire about 40 miles north of the city of Santa Barbara started Friday afternoon near Zaca Lake in the Los Padres National Forest.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department issued evacuation orders Saturday night as the fire grew to 12,000 acres. The evacuation orders also included the 5000 block of Figueroa Mountain Road, where Michael Jackson’s former ranch is located, authorities said.

Warnings have also been issued for nearby residents to prepare to evacuate, according to the sheriff’s office.

The wildfire broke out during a heat wave that enveloped the region and much of California.

“An excessive heat warning for next week continues to impact the fire with high temperatures, dry vegetation and little respite at night. The National Weather Service reported that a heat wave this intense and prolonged has not been seen in this area in 20 years,” CAL FIRE said in a statement.

The fire spread rapidly on Saturday, with temperatures around 32°C and relative humidity around 11%.

“As relative humidity decreases, fire behavior increases because fine fuels like grass and pine needles become drier quickly,” according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA).

The investigation is looking into the causes of the fire.