Malibu was evacuated as blazes roared southwards from the outskirts of Los Angeleles. Two separate fires erupted within miles of each other on Thursday shutting down the 101 Freeway in both directions and sweeping towards the Santa Monica Mountains. There are around 13,000 Malibu residents along a 21-mile stretch of coast.
Fast-moving wildfires on Friday morning led to the evacuation of 75,000 homes as the Woolsey Fire hit parts of Thousand Oaks in Ventura County northwest of Los Angeles.
Several evacuation sites were giving protective masks for residents, Ventura County Emergency Services said, although there were no immediate reports of deaths or serious injuries.
The Woolsey blaze also struck parts of Los Angeles County, where mandatory evacuation orders were given on Friday morning, US time, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
The fire had jumped Highway 101 in several places, including Calabasas and Agoura Hills, as it barrelled south towards coastal Malibu.
A large animal evacuation center was also launched in Malibu.
The Woolsey fire started on Thursday afternoon south of the city of Simi Valley, Ventura County officials said.
Around 10,000 acres of land was torched in the blaze by Thursday night, fire officials said.
Evacuation notices were announced for Chico, which is home to around 93,000 people and is about 90 miles north of Sacramento.
The Camp Fire headed to the outskirts of Chico early on Friday, forcing thousands to flee after it left the nearby town of Paradise in ruins, California fire officials said.
“The town is devastated, everything is destroyed. There’s nothing much left standing,” said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) spokesman Scott Maclean.
“This fire moved so fast and grew so fast a lot of people got caught by it.”
Around 26,000 residents live in Paradise in the Sierra foothills.
Flames from Camp Fire were being powered by 35-mile-per hour winds, fire officials said as the blaze earlier ripped through Paradise, about 20 miles east of Chico.
Schools and universities cancelled classes with some already closed after a gunman shot dead 12 people in nearby Thousand Oaks.
Local news reporter Tom Wait of CBS2 described the fire as “apocalyptic” with ember and ash raining down from the flames.
Malibu is home to a galaxy of Hollywood stars, including Kim Kardashian, who posted on Instagram urging people to “pray” for Calabasas, one of the affected areas.
La County Fire Department tweeted: “*URGENT SAFETY MESSAGE* Fire has jumped the 101 fwy near Chesebro and is headed to Ocean Mandatory Evacuations, 101 Fwy to the coast between Las Virgenes Cyn /Malibu Cyn Rd. to the LA County line.
“Imminent threat! Malibu lakes residents must leave area immediately.”
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.