Thousands of Los Angeles residents have been told to evacuate because of a fast-moving wildfire that began in the early hours of Monday morning. The Getty fire broke out shortly after 02:30 (09:30 GMT) and has spread to more than 400 acres near some of the city’s most expensive homes.

California’s governor has declared a state-wide emergency as wildfires continue to rage in many other areas. NBA star Lebron James was among those forced to flee the LA fire. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti announced he would sign an emergency declaration to draw more resources to fight the Getty fire. Some 3,300 homes are in the mandatory evacuation zone.

The wildfire is threatening LA’s affluent Brentwood neighbourhood and a local resident told the LA Times he was debating whether or not to leave, and which car of his two cars should be left behind. “I have to figure out what I’m going to do with my Ferrari,” the 47-year-old man said.

Meanwhile wildfires are continuing to sweep through northern California. Some 180,000 people have been ordered to leave homes, with roads around Santa Rosa north of San Francisco packed with cars as people tried to flee.(BBC)…[+]