Southern California residents are forced to evacuate as the Highland Fire rages

A firefighter and resident converse on how to protect his possessions as a wildfire called the Highland Fire burns in Aguanga, Calif., on Monday. (Ethan Swope/AP)

A Southern California wildfire that began on Monday is now burning nearly 2,500 acres and has prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents.

The Highland Fire, located outside the city of Temecula, took just one day to double in size, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire.