On Sunday evening, The Governor of California, US, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has declared state of emergency in southern California, in seven counties, due to the fires that affected the area.

The fires are feeding on dry brush and driven by California’s high, hot winds, affected up to 14,000 hectares, killing one person and destroying a huge number of homes.

The death occurred in San Diego County, where, besides the person who died, eight others were wounded, including four firemen.

Only in Los Angeles County, around 800 homes and several thousands of people were evacuated, after ten buildings being destroyed and 4.000 being threatened of being reduced to ashes.

The blazes also endanger Malibu, home of many celebrities. This is the region’s traditional fire season, which reaches its peak during the Santa Ana winds, which, it has been reported, had a hurricane strength on Sunday. Colligated with the fact that this year has been the driest ever recorded, more than a dozen of fires started.

Forecasters predicted the winds would worsen overnight. The fires seem to have been started by the fall of some power lines in Malibu.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief, P. Michael Freeman, declared that in at least two days the fire will be under control, but warned the residents to be prepared for evacuation. In order to fight the flames, there were more than 1,400 firefighters and water-dumping helicopters deployed.

"This fire is zero per cent contained, which means we're at the mercy of the wind," said Pamela Conley Ulich, acting Malibu mayor.