Fast moving wildfires fed by dangerous Santa Ana winds has whipped through parts of Southern California, leading to an unprecedented danger warning from officials and thousands of evacuations.

The fires have thrived on the hot and dry conditions in the state, and have brought thousands of wildfires out to battle the blazes.

Among the most worrisome is the Getty Fire, which Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti called an “act of god” started by a broken tree branch that was whipped by strong winds into a power line.

Another, the Easy Fire, began on Wednesday morning, and quickly grew to encompass around 1,300 acres, and prompted federal aid to help California handle that blaze, which ran nearby to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

During a press conference on Tuesday evening that included Mr Garcetti, officials said that utility crews had completed brush clearance in the area where the Getty Fire started as recently as July. But, even with those precautions, unforeseen circumstances could have damaging impacts.

Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Show all 32 1 /32 Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Firefighters battle a blaze at the Salvation Army Camp in Malibu Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Flames from the Camp fire burn near a home atop a ridge near Big Bend AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Cathy Fallon (centre) who stayed behind to tend to her horses during the Camp Fire, embraces Shawna De Long (left) and April Smith who brought supplies for the horses Reuters Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A helicopter drops flame retardant on a wildfire in Malibu Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures An air tanker drops water on the fire along the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Simi Valley AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures An abandoned car from fleeing residents of Paradise in the Pentz road area EPA Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A firefighter tackles the fire along the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Simi Valley AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A Jack In The Box fast food restaurant burns as the Camp fire moves through Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Yuba and Butte County Sheriff officers label a body bag AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Firefighters hose down trees on Bell Canyon Road, near Malibu AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A fire burns at the Salvation Army Camp Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A firefighting DC-10 makes a fire retardant drop over a wildfire in the mountains near Malibu Canyon Road AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Bins have melted and ballooned in the heat in Magalia, Butte County EPA Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Satellite image taken on 8 November shows plumes of smoke from the Camp Fire stretching across portions of Northern California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Firefighters battle the Camp Fire AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Firefighters battle the Woolsey Fire Reuters Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Deputy Coroner Justin Sponhaltz, of the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, recovers human remains found at a home destroyed by the Camp Fire AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Buildings burn in Paradise, California EPA Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Local residents bring their horses to Zuma Beach and away from the Woolsey Fire in Malibu Reuters Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A used car dealership burns in Paradise, California Reuters Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Yuba and Butte County Sheriff officers inspect a burned vehicle after discovering remains nearby in Concow AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Firefighters battle the flames in Thousand Oaks Reuters Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Search and rescue teams work to evacuate patients from the burning Feather River Hospital in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Embers blow in the wind in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures In Butte County, the sky is filled with the smoke of the Camp Fire EPA Wildfires spread across California – in pictures Firefighters at work in Thousand Oaks Reuters Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A house burns in Paradise, California AP Wildfires spread across California – in pictures The burned remains of a house and car are left after the Camp Fire in Paradise, California AFP/Getty Wildfires spread across California – in pictures A shop burns in Paradise, California AFP/Getty

“In this unfortunate situation, it could have been a tree branch, could have been a palm frond from across the freeway, a Mylar balloon balloon — any of those things entering into the area are things that we cannot control and so that makes the challenge of how to deliver reliable power [and] at the same time be vigilant on a windy day such as we had these last few days,” said Marty Adams, the general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

As the fire spread, officials with the National Weather Service issued its first-ever “extreme red flag warning”, which accompanied dramatic images of the fires as it whipped through America’s second most populous metropolitan area.

Horse seems to go back to save others during California fire

The Getty fire had burned 745 acres, and was 27 per cent contained, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Evacuations for thousands of people — including Los Angeles Laker player LeBron James — remained in effect on Wednesday afternoon.

Other fires in the state include the much larger Kincade Fire, which was 30 per cent contained as of Wednesday afternoon but had burned 76,825 acres. The Easy Fire, which started on Wednesday, had burned 1,300 acres, and forced the evacuation of the Ronald Reagan presidential library.

As many as 365,000 homes and businesses were without electricity as well, after Pacific Gas & Electric shut of power to millions of people, saying that the measure was being taken in order to prevent new fires from starting.

Southern California Edison, another utility in the state, had shut off power to another 68,000 homes and businesses.

The dramatic imagery coming from near the blaze has included footage of the blaze from helicopters, as well as footage from citizens posted online. One such video appeared to show a horse running back towards the flames in order to help guide other horses to safety. Some posted on Twitter that their commute had more than doubled their commute as a result of the fires, which have blocked off some routes to get to work.