BeulalandBlog : Apocalyptic scenes : California burning

A home in Ojai burns down as the fire advances on towns

Desperate firefighters have been battling wildfires sweeping across Southern California – laying waste to at least 500 buildings and rendering 300,000 people homeless.

More than 5,700 firefighters from across the region are today combating the spread of six large blazes raging from Los Angeles up the Pacific coast to Santa Barbara County

REX FEATURES

Cal Fire firefighter Cole Bellatti hoses a hillside on fire behind stores in the River Village shopping centre at Highway 76 and South Mission Road in Lilac

Fierce westward Santa Ana wind have been stoking the fires.

Firefighters and helicopters sprayed and dumped bucket-loads of water and fire retardant on flames against a hellish backdrop of flaming mountains and walls of smoke.

Propane tanks under several houses exploded from the heat, sounding like bombs, according to a photographer at the scene.

Fire makes it way down a hill into La Conchinta where homes caught fire — Fire makes its way down a hill into La Conchinta where homes caught fire

Firefighters light a controlled fire to rob the fire of fuel leading into the northern end of Camp Ramah in western Ojai

A car drives past a large wall of approaching flames in Bonsall, California — A car drives past a large wall of approaching flames in Bonsall

Firefighters walk to the fire line in Bonsall as local emergency officials warned of powerful winds that will feed wildfires

Reports confirmed that three people in Lilac were badly burned and another suffered smoke inhalation.

Two firefighters were also badly injured.

Meanwhile the wealthy enclave of Bel-Air has not escaped the raging inferno.

In the seaside enclave of Faria Beach, caught between burning mountains and the Pacific Ocean northwest of Ventura, fires spread down the smoking hills.

Trees glow in the wind after catches fire in the intense heat — Trees glow in the wind after catching fire in the intense heat

Fire crews work among destroyed homes at the Rancho Monserate Country Club

This photographs shows somebody's home going up in smoke — This photographs shows somebody’s home going up in smoke

A stables catches fire in Bonsall as the fire torches everything in its path — A stable catches fire in Bonsall as the fire torches everything in its path

Volunteers rescue horses as the flames approach

Some 200,000 people have been made homeless — Some 300,000 people have been made homeless

Flames jumped the heavily used US 101 highway and headed toward clusters of beach houses.

Firefighters lined up along a train track, the last barrier from the flames.

Heavy smoke made breathing hazardous in some areas and residents were urged to stay inside.

Ventura County authorities said air pollution measures in the Ojai Valley were “off the charts”.

This tree is burnt from branch to root so that it turns into a massive glowing ember

A helicopter drops water on the fire as the battle intensifies

Helicopters were working all night and were still in the sky by dawn

The Los Angeles Police Department tweeted: “LAPD Working to Save Every Californian, Pets Included” along with a photo of a police officer in a respirator rescuing a cat.

“The Los Angeles County animal shelter said it was hosting 184 pets including llamas, donkeys and horses while reports said 29 horses were burned to death on Tuesday at a ranch in the Sylmar neighbourhood of Los Angeles.

Media magnate Rupert Murdoch’s Moraga Estate winery was also under threat.