In pictures: US wildfire devastation

Wildfires have wreaked destruction in Montecito, an exclusive enclave near Santa Barbara, California, forcing thousands of people to flee.

Firefighters tackled raging fires overnight and at daybreak air tankers were deployed to drop water on the flames.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Santa Barbara County as firefighters continued their campaign.

Many of the homes reduced to smouldering ruins in Montecito were multi-million dollar mansions.

The fast-moving fires, fanned by gusting winds, left many residents just minutes to evacuate their homes.

Fire officials said on Friday that achieving control of the blaze was "not even in sight".