'Firenadoes' rage in California

Weary firefighters yesterday battled a raging inferno that was threatening the homes of more than 82,000 people in southern California and sent flaming "firenadoes" tearing across the brush.

Nearly 1,600 firefighters were fighting the giant blaze, but had only contained four percent of it, according to a fire service official.

Dramatic local TV news footage captured from the front line of the wildfire in the town of Phelan showed tornado-like flaming vortexes -- known as "firenadoes" -- sent spinning into the air by the ferocity of the blaze.

Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for San Bernardino County, just 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, where the so-called Bluecut Fire was quickly growing, its cause still unclear.

The inferno began around 10:30 am (1730 GMT) Tuesday and has already burned through 25,626 acres (10,370 hectares) according to the multi-agency Inciweb information site.

A bunt car is pictured on a property in Phelan, California. Photo: Reuters, AFP

More than 34,500 homes were threatened and 82,640 people were under evacuation warnings.

California is in its fifth year of a record drought, with parts experiencing a heat wave and strong seasonal gusts known as the Santa Ana winds, a recipe for perfect wildfire conditions.

Thousands of firefighters are already committed to several other major fires -- north of San Francisco, in central California's wine region and in the scenic coastal area of Big Sur.