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Nov 14, 2008, 19:37 GMT

Fire destroys more than 100 luxury homes near Santa Barbara (1st Lead)

Los Angeles - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency as more than 1,000 firefighters battled a raging wildfire near the celebrity hideaway of Montecito on Friday. More than 100 houses had been destroyed by the wind-driven flames overnight and fire chiefs were working to contain the damage before strong winds picked up again Friday night. The fire injured 13 people and forced residents from more than 5,400 homes to evacuate. Several university buildings were also destroyed in the inferno, including a dormitory and several laboratories. It was the worst fire of the current season in terms of property damage. The fire broke out Thursday evening and had burned around 1,000 hectares by Friday morning. Firefighters poured into the area from around the state to battle the flames, aided by hundreds of fire engines, nine helicopters and 10 air tankers, said Terri Nisich, Santa Barbara County's assistant executive officer. 'We're going to have a very, very tough day today for firefighting and when the winds kick up this afternoon, we're going to have an incredibly challenging situation,' said Santa Barbara County fire chief Ron Prince at a press conference. 'Control of this fire is not even in sight.' Montecito is home to stars such as Oprah Winfrey and Rob Lowe. It is situated in the coastal mountains just outside Santa Barbara, about 145 kilometers north-east of Los Angeles.

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