California Fire Zones In State Of Emergency

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency for four California counties as the massive wildfire raging north of Los Angeles almost doubled in size overnight and is threatening more than 12,000 homes.

Schwarzenegger said eight fires are burning in California, the largest one in the foothills north of Los Angeles that has scorched 347 square kilometres of brush and trees, destroyed at least 18 homes and threatened 12,000 more.

He declared the state of emergency for Placer, Monterey, Los Angeles and Mariposa counties.

The fire continues to expand as it feeds on brush in steep canyons that have not burned for at least 40 years, fire officials said.

"It's burning everywhere," U.S. Forest Service spokesman Dianne Cahir said. "When it gets into canyons that haven't burned in numerous years, it takes off."

Essential communications centre transmitters for more than 20 television stations for Los Angeles County and the historic Mount Wilson Observatory were among the facilities being threatened by the fire, officials said.

At least 12,000 homes in an area stretching 32 kilometres from Pasadena to Acton were also being threatened, including ranches and multimillion-dollar estates. At least 6,600 homes were under mandatory evacuation orders in the neighbourhoods of Glendale, Pasadena and other smoke-choked cities and towns north of Los Angeles.

Twelve evacuation centres were set up at schools and community centres in the area.

At least 18 homes have been destroyed by the fire around Angeles National Forest, officials said, adding that the number is expected to rise.

"Our neighbours sent us photos of all the other houses that are lost," said Beth Halaas, who lost her house in Big Tujunga Canyon, one of the many communities under mandatory evacuation.

Halaas told The Associated Press local residents believe as many as 30 houses were destroyed.

Only 5% contained

The blaze is also raining ash into downtown Los Angeles.

By late Sunday, only about five per cent of the blaze had been contained, according to officials.

The National Weather Service's red flag warning for extreme fire conditions remained in effect Monday for the mountains of Central and Southern California.

More than 2,500 firefighters were battling the flames on Monday. Crews were expected to set backfires in an attempt to slow the fire's advance. Planes will also continue to drop retardant in the area.

It is still possible the fire will double again over the next several days, said U.S. Forest Service Capt. Mike Dietrich.

Two firefighters died Sunday afternoon when their vehicle rolled off a mountainside near Mt. Gleason in the Angeles National Forest, officials said.

The fire, which began on Wednesday, was the largest and most dangerous of several burning around southern and central California and in Yosemite National Park.

The fire spread especially to the north and west, bringing new concerns for the areas near Acton and Santa Clarita. Temperatures are expected to dip into the 30s C on Monday with low humidity.

Meanwhile, another fire in San Bernardino County was threatening 2,000 homes and forced evacuations were occurring Monday.

By Sunday night, the fire northeast of Sacramento had been 50 per cent contained after blackening about 110 hectares of land and destroying about 60 structures, prompting a state of emergency to be declared for the Sierra foothills.