A fast-growing brush fire in Southern California has prompted evacuation orders and damaged at least one home.

The blaze was reported shortly after 10am on Monday and had spread to more than 180 acres before midday.

Fire crews were deployed quickly as winds pushed the flames through dry hillsides.

Firefighters focused on preventing the blaze from moving downhill towards suburban Thousand Oaks, where some residents were also told to leave as a precaution.

The fire remains active in an area of Southern California known for dry vegetation and shifting winds, conditions that can turn small ignitions into fast-moving emergencies.