The situation in Southern California, where wildfires continue to spread, is “quite dire,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said while visiting the region.

“Right now, the situation is quite dire,” said Mayorkas, in his final weeks as DHS secretary before President Joe Biden leaves office.

The fires around Los Angeles have grown worse due to strong winds and massive blazes in the area. The high winds have contributed to how quickly the fires have spread.

“The increased severity and frequency of extreme weather events have driven people from their homes,” Mayorkas added. “It is one of a series of contributing challenges that finds our world with the highest level of human displacement since World War II. There are over 80 million people displaced in the world today.”

Mayorkas applauded the firefighters in the region who have worked day and night to slow the spread and put out what they can.

The federal government is continuing to communicate with and provide resources to the local and state authorities working on the fires.

“We already have been providing resources in the fight against these raging wildfires,” Mayorkas said. “We have already committed to reimburse for certain firefighting costs. And our partnership with the firefighting community, as well as the leadership of the state and the general public, will continue.”

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The raging fires have killed two people and burned down more than 1,000 structures since they erupted and left tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders in Los Angeles County. Vice President Kamala Harris’s California home was also in the evacuation area.

At present, the fires are 0% contained, according to authorities.