Flames ignite homes and cars as 30,000 people ordered to evacuate from Los Angeles wildfire

Edited by Gavin Butler, BBC, Jan.8: The Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California has triggered mandatory evacuations as a thick, heavy smoke hung over the region.

Officials say the blaze grew from 20 acres to more than 200 acres in about 20 minutes after it was reported about 10:30 local time.

The growth has been fuelled by a fierce wind event that has placed a large portion of the state under a red flag warning.Los Angeles declares a state of emergency as a wildfire explodes from 10 acres to more than 2,900 acres in mere hours

Fire chief Kristin Crowley says more than 30,000 people are under evacuation orders, and 13,000 buildings under threat

Footage shows houses on fire in the Pacific Palisades area and residents abandoning their cars to flee the flames

The fire broke out about 10:30 (18:30 GMT) on Tuesday and it exploded in size, fanned by 50 mph (80km/h) wind gusts and incredibly dry conditions

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone says the Pacific Palisades is "not out of danger"

A second brush fire has also started quickly spreading above Altadena, near the Eaton Canyon, about 40km (26 miles) inland from the Palisades

Millions of people in California are under a red flag warning, meaning there is an extreme fire danger