Friday, a fire blazing through Montecito, California, home of the rich and famous, destroyed a number of 111 residences, authorities notifying that even though the wildfire had died down, the danger had not yet passed.

They informed that another 1,500 homes were under the threat of burning down, because the fire was not completely under control. Moreover, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, 1,800 acres had gone down in flames since the fire had broken out on Thursday, at 6 p.m.

The Montecito enclave has drawn many celebrities over the years, residents coming to call the land between the Pacific Ocean and the mountains a paradise, since although exclusive and posh, it lies afar from the humdrum of Los Angeles.

Among the stars who have sought coziness and peace in the Montecito haven are iconic talk-show host Oprah Winfrey and famous actor Rob Lowe, whose homes were both spared by the consuming flames Friday.

Nevertheless, some of their neighbours and friends, as well-were less fortunate, having their properties defaced or even completely destroyed by the wildfire. During Winfrey’s Friday show, she and Lowe talked over the phone about the dreadful experience Montecito residents had been faced with, voicing their sympathy towards their neighbours.

Oprah revealed that most of her friends whom she called to see whether they were ok after the fire had left their homes only with their dogs, the talk-show host adding that had her own estate been caught in the fire, her main concern would have also been her dogs, since she didn’t have any children.

As for Rob Lowe, he said he was watching football with his son when the fire blazed around his home, his wife having been the one to notify them of the impending danger just in the nick of time.

Wild fires in California spread to a second city on Saturday after ravaging hundreds of luxury homes the day before.

According to firefighters 5,000 people had to be evacuated from the town of Sylmar just north of Los Angeles as bush fires approached.

The fires were being driven strong winds, said Deputy Fire Chief Don Fraser, adding that the fires was moving faster than a human could run.

Around 1,000 homes were threatened by the flames in the Sylmar area, with 15 already engulfed.