Devastating infernos strike California

SANTA PAULA, United States — More than a thousand firefighters were struggling to contain a windwhipped brush fire in southern California yesterday that has left at least one person dead, sent thousands fleeing, and was choking the area with thick black smoke.

The Ventura County Fire Department said more than 27,000 people had been told to evacuate as the fast-moving fire in the coastal county north of Los Angeles grew to 45,000 acres (18,200 hectares). More than 150 homes and businesses had already been destroyed.

California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency over the area, announcing: "This fire is very dangerous and spreading rapidly.

"It's critical residents stay ready and evacuate immediately if told to do so."

The northern part of Los Angeles county was engulfed in thick smoke, leaving the air almost unbreathable as ash fell on the streets. Mayor Eric Garcetti warned residents to remain vigilant for fresh outbreaks.

"This is an extreme weather event and these winds can spread embers far and/or kick small new fires up quickly. We expect five days of this," he tweeted.

A Red Cross evacuation center which had hosted 600 people Monday night was expecting that number to rise to around a thousand by Tuesday, spokesman Fred Mariscal said.

Lexus Deloni, a 20-year-old caregiver who had brought her two young girls, aged one and two, said she had only 45 minutes to evacuate after returning home from a 12hour shift in the city of Ojai, an hour-and-a-half drive from LA.

"I'm making sure they are eating, drinking, having fun, playing with them," she said, as a man dressed as Santa Claus arrived, much to the delight of the youngsters.

Prospects for containment depended on improving weather conditions.

"Really, Mother Nature is going to decide when we have the ability to put it out," Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen told a news conference.