Thousands flee as fires gut California homes

Firefighters were on Thursday picking over the smoldering rubble of a ferocious California wildfire that forced thousands to flee and destroyed at least 20 homes.

A blaze which began on Monday in the upmarket coastal town of Santa Barbara, northwest of Los Angeles, exploded into life on Wednesday as powerful hot winds and record temperatures created a perfect storm of fire conditions.

More than 13,000 residents of the picturesque city have been ordered to evacuate as an army of 1,300 firefighters battles to get a grip on the 1,300-acre (526-hectare) fire, which was zero percent contained.

Three firefighters were hospitalized suffering from burns and smoke inhalation as a home they were protecting was suddenly engulfed by flames. The firefighters were in a stable condition Thursday.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency to help release resources to fight the blaze and was due to tour the fire-stricken area later Thursday.

As dawn broke on Thursday, firefighters got a clearer picture of the devastation caused by the fire.

Television footage showed several multi-million dollar mansions in the Santa Barbara foothills reduced to blackened shells as vast plumes of thick smoke shrouded the region.

A lull in winds gave firefighters a brief respite early Thursday but authorities appealed to residents of the city on Thursday to be ready to evacuate their homes if necessary.

"Get out early that's our message," said Captain Dave Sadecki of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

"If you've been warned, that means pack your car. If you're told to evacuate that means put the keys in ignition and leave."

California is frequently hit by scorching wildfires due to its dry climate, Santa Ana winds and recent housing booms that have seen housing spread rapidly into rural and densely forested areas.

In 2007, California suffered devastation from wildfires among the worst in its history that left eight people dead, gutted 2,000 homes, displaced 640,000 people and caused one billion dollars in damage.

Last November at least 100 homes were destroyed by a wildfire in the celebrity enclave of Montecito near Santa Barbara.