Wildfire ravages Pacific Palisades homes

Dozens of firefighters battled a raging wildfire in the Pacific Palisades area, an upscale section of Los Angeles, California.

Footage showed several houses on fire in a residential area as firefighters raced to stop the flames.

A rapidly growing wildfire raged across the Pacific Palisades area, destroying homes and creating traffic jams as 30,000 people evacuated beneath huge plumes of smoke that covered much of the metropolitan area.

At least 2,921 acres (1,182 hectares) of the Pacific Palisades area between the coastal settlements of Santa Monica and Malibu had burned, officials said, after they had already warned of extreme fire danger from powerful winds that arrived following extended dry weather.

The fire spread as officials warned the worst wind conditions were expected to come overnight, leading to concerns that more neighborhoods could be forced to flee. The city of Santa Monica later ordered evacuations in the northern fringe of town.

As firefighters battle a fast-moving brush fire in the Pacific Palisades, a second inferno has broken out in nearby Pasadena.

The two fires are forcing more than 30,000 people from their homes. An estimated 200 acres are now ablaze in the Pasadena area as fighters battle the Eaton Fire. Eaton firefighters are moving evacuations along as the fire continues to progress. 

Strong Santa Ana winds have grounded aerial firefighting planes, making them unable to fly and stunting aerial water bombing efforts.

Weather forecasters are warning of the possibility of some of the strongest winds in more than a decade.

While there have been no injuries in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, home to numerous A-list celebrities, a number of homes have been damaged in the blaze and more than 250 firefighters - including 46 engines and five helicopters - are on the scene.

Several Hollywood events including the premieres of Unstoppable, starring Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Gosling-produced Wolf Man have been cancelled.