As wildfires rage against Southern California, even the exclusive Bel Air neighbourhood, a six-mile, gated enclave in the foothills of Los Angeles has been hit by the Skirball Fire - prompting the evacuation of 700 homes on some of the most expensive land in the US,

It is land originally set aside and gated in the 1920s by a local oil baron, but now home to many Hollywood celebrities and moguls. Media baron Rupert Murdoch’s $30-million Moraga Estate and working vineyard was damaged by one of the area fires. Another fire-proximate property is Beyonce and Jay-Z’s $135-million mansion, a 30,000 square-foot spread, said to house four swimming pools, a helipad, and bullet-proof windows. Other celebrities living in Bel Air’s cushy confines include Jennifer Aniston and Elon Musk.

Yet all those standing at the police barrier at the foot of Moraga Drive, were aware of the levelling nature of fire, no matter the cost of the property. Several sported face masks, as they stood anxiously waiting for news of their homes. Many fire crews and their trucks had gathered, ready to climb into the foothills on a moment’s notice to relieve crews who’d been battling the blazes for hours.

There have been images of firefighters over the last 48 hours removing artwork from luxury homes. But for David Gibson, a fire chief whose team had driven down from Contra Costa Country in Northern California overnight to help his LA brethren, the exclusive nature of the surroundings did not matter to him.

“For us, we treat ‘em all the same. Everybody’s possessions are important to us. Wherever the most need is at, we go,” he said.

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Detective Kevin Reynolds suggested that several residents in the upper Moraga area - known as “behind the gates” - had actually chosen to not evacuate their properties, despite an order to do so by the City. “I don’t know their train of thought,” he said tersely, as he helped organise a line of evacuees who were being allowed to drive back to their homes briefly to collect medications.

For many older Bel Air residents, the evacuation evoked memories of the 1961 Bel Air Fire, one that scorched through 16,000 acres, and destroyed the homes of actors Burt Lancaster and Zsa Zsa Gabor. It was after that fire that new safety initiative were introduced, such as the banning of wood shingles for roofs.

California fires: in pictures Show all 36 1 /36 California fires: in pictures California fires: in pictures A man watches the Thomas Fire in the hills above Carpinteria, California AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures Santa Barbara harbor stands as wildfire burns along the coast during the Thomas Fire REUTERS California fires: in pictures Flames from the Thomas Fire burn in the hills of Montecito, California AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures Fire personnel drive along West Lilac Road near Bonsall Rex Features California fires: in pictures The Thomas Fire burns on a hillside behind Lake Casitas in Ventura AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures Chatsworth firefighters Zach Reynolds, left, and Steven Salazar clear hot spots at a home destroyed by the Skirball Fire on Casiano Road in Bel-Air Rex Features California fires: in pictures A home is consumed by fire Getty Images California fires: in pictures A mountain lion is removed from a truck. Nearly 200 animals were evacuated from the Wildlife Waystation when the Creek fire started. Rex Features California fires: in pictures Firefighters battle the Lilac fire in Bonsall AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures Kalorama Apartments that was partially destroyed in the fire Rex Features California fires: in pictures Inmate firefighters fight a fire in an avocado orchard at the Ojai Vista Farm EPA California fires: in pictures Flames consume a structure as the Lilac fire burns in Bonsai, Calif AP California fires: in pictures Inmate firefighters fight a fire in an avocado orchard at the Ojai Vista Farm EPA California fires: in pictures Firefighters monitor a section of the Thomas Fire along the 101 freeway Getty Images California fires: in pictures Firefighters work to extinguish the Thomas Fire as it burns past the 101 Highway towards the Pacific Coast Highway in Ventura AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures Firefighter Dan Whelan is silhouetted against the sun as he battles a wildfire burning near Faria State Beach AP California fires: in pictures A firefighter is working on extinguishing the Lilac Fire Reuters California fires: in pictures Firefighters work to extinguish the Thomas Fire as it burns past the 101 Highway AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures A wildfire threatens homes as it burns along a hillside in La Conchita, Calif AP California fires: in pictures A car drives past as the Thomas Fire burns a hillside south of Casitas Springs, California AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures Firefighters try to extinguish fire at a house in the Bel Air district of Los Angeles Rex Features California fires: in pictures A burnt-out car is seen at the Bel Air district of Los Angeles Rex Features California fires: in pictures A burning house at the Bel Air district of Los Angeles Rex Features California fires: in pictures Firefighters battle to contain flames to a home on fire in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles Rex Features California fires: in pictures LA city firefighters try to save a winery storage building that is own by billionaire Rupert Murdoch Rex Features California fires: in pictures A firefighter tries to extinguish fire at a house in the Bel Air district of Los Angeles Rex Features California fires: in pictures A burning house at the Bel Air district of Los Angeles Rex Features California fires: in pictures Los Angeles City firefighter Francisco Martinez protects a home as firefighters battle the Skirball Fire in Bel-Air Rex Features California fires: in pictures The Thomas Fire burns behind trails on Old Baldwin Road in Ojai, California AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures Members of the Reinhardt family sort through the remains of their family home after the Thomas wildfire swept through Ventura, California AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures Heavy smoke covers the seaside enclave of Mondos Beach beside the 101 highway as flames reach the coast during the Thomas wildfire near Ventura, California AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures A family wears face masks as they walk through the smoke filled streets after the Thomas wildfire swept through Ventura, California AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures Flames from the Thomas fire burn above a truck on Highway 101 north of Ventura AP California fires: in pictures Trees are seen through the haze at the burnt out Vista del Mar Hospital after the Thomas wildfire swept through Ventura, California AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures A woman involved in a traffic accident waits to get towed beside a wall of flames on the 101 highway during the Thomas wildfire near Ventura, California AFP/Getty Images California fires: in pictures The Thomas Fire burns along a hillside near Santa Paula, California AFP/Getty Images

Tom Lallas, a trial lawyer standing near his office at the foot of Moraga Drive, remembers that fire. “More than 500 homes burned. There were photographs of Ronald Reagan with a garden hose trying to protect his property”

“I doubt that there’s any home on Moraga that is less than $3 million, and behind the gates, most homes are in the $10-15 million range,” he added.

Rodrigo Maximo, a landscaper in his 20s, waited hopefully with his gardening truck to see if he could gain access to Moraga Drive to check on one of the properties he normally tended to. His clients, whom he insisted on not naming, were not there, but he said he had been in touch with them. “They were evacuated. They don’t know what their house looks like, if there is damage.” He added that it was a “nice, big property.”

Southern California bushfire rages on

“I appreciate them a lot, and have worked for them for 13 years. I want their stuff to be okay,” he said.

In a different vein, across the just-reopened 405 freeway - the city’s main north-south artery - perched the Jewish-heritage Skirball Cultural Center, as well as the world-famous Getty Center, The Center's $1.3-billion private art collection narrowly escaped the blazes that jumped the freeway in scattershot fashion on Wednesday.

“The Getty was designed and built to protect our collection from disasters like these major fires, including the placement of landscaping,” said Getty Vice President of Communications Ron Hartwig, his phones ringing off the hook in the background.

“We have sophisticated air filtration systems that keep smoke from invading the galleries, which are built in such a way as to protect our collections.”