California wildfires spread along Pacific coast

Wildfires have forced thousands of people to flee their homes in California's hills. More than 2,000 firefighters spent the weekend battling 300 fires that have now destroyed more than half a million acres of countryside and at least 69 homes.

A state of emergency has been declared. The holiday town of Big Sur, a New Age resort on Highway 1 – the famous road that runs the length of America's west coast – was partially evacuated, leaving 2,600 houses to their fate.

Television helicopters showed aircraft dropping water on 100ft flames, while journalists interviewed the owners of 1,400 other properties who are being kept on standby, ready to flee.

The Henry Miller Memorial Library, home to the books and artefacts of the Tropic of Cancer author, one of the many writers who have lived in Big Sur, is also at risk.

Freak electrical storms combined with a long-running drought to start blazes across the region. More than 1,700 out-of-control fires have been reported – of which 1,400 are partially contained.

Fighting the disaster is reported to have so far cost more than $300m (£150m) and California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to secure Federal assistance.