MONTECITO (California) - FIREFIGHTERS were battling to get a grip on a wildfire in an exclusive California enclave early on Saturday as a fresh blaze erupted on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

At least 100 homes in the ritzy hillside community of Montecito, 100 miles (160 kilometres) northwest of Los Angeles, had been destroyed by a wind-driven wildfire that erupted on Thursday in the picturesque celebrity haven.

A lull in winds on Friday offered respite to around 800 firefighters tackling the flames but the fire, which has burned around 1,800 acres (728 hectares) remained out of control.

Montecito is a popular home-from-home for the super-rich, and celebrities such as talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey and Hollywood actors Michael Douglas, Jeff Bridges and Rob Lowe all own property in the area.

Mr Lowe was among around 5,000 residents who fled their homes on Thursday after flames driven by powerful local winds known as 'sundowners' formed a firestorm that swiftly overwhelmed firefighters.

There have been no reported fatalities but 13 injuries, including three suffering from burns and 10 suffering from smoke inhalation, according to figures from Santa Barbara County.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Santa Barbara County early Friday.

Meanwhile Hollywood star Lowe told how he had been forced to flee his home on Thursday after the sudden arrival of flames.

'I was watching the football game with my son and my wife called and said 'Montecito's on fire - get out!',' said Mr Lowe, whose home escaped damage.

'I thought she was kidding because there was no indication that there would be any problem whatsoever. But we got in the car, pulled out of the driveway and the entire mountain behind us was in flames.'

As firefighters tackled the Montecito blaze, a fresh fire erupted near Sylmar in the northern suburbs of Los Angeles late on Friday, destroying at least three homes and forcing the evacuation of patients from a hospital.

Los Angeles City Fire Department spokesperson Melissa Kelly said the fire erupted around 10.30pm local time on Friday in hills near Sylmar and spread rapidly after being fanned by 50 mile-per-hour winds.

The fire has scorched around 100 acres and more than 150 personnel including five water-dropping helicopters are at the scene.

California is frequently hit by scorching wildfires due to its dry climate, Santa Ana winds and recent housing booms which have seen housing spread rapidly into rural and densely forested areas.

The Montecito fire comes just over a year after devastating wildfires that were among the worst in California history, that left eight people dead, gutted 2,000 homes, displaced 640,000 people and caused one billion dollars in damage.

In June and July this year, a series of about 2,000 fires raged across the state, scorching some 900,000 acres of land, according to officials. -- AFP