California wildfire threatens thousands of homes

A wildfire burning for a third day in southern California has damaged or destroyed 75 homes and threatens thousands more.

The state's fire officials said that the blaze in Santa Barbara is only 10 per cent contained.

The wildfire, named Jesusita, has spread to 2,700 acres, or four square miles, battalion chief Mike Carr of the state's department of forestry and fire protection said.

The fire burned multi-million-dollar homes in the coastal city to their foundations and forced about 13,500 people to evacuate. About 5,430 homes were thought to be threatened.

It began as a brush fire on Wednesday when fierce winds of up to 5mph fanned the flames . About 1,400 fire crew were being aided by helicopters to tackle the fire.

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency.

Mr Carr did not have a tally of how many homes have been destroyed, but officials estimate the number is in the dozens.