RAMONA, California (CNN) -- Helping residents who ignored evacuation orders diverted fire crews away from firefighting efforts Monday as wildfires burned out of control in the San Diego area, officials said.
"We've been unable to do any suppression effort because, in most cases, the fire resources are being used ... to do rescues," said Bill Metcalf, chief of the North County Fire Protection District in Fallbrook.
Metcalf said the wildfire situation in the San Diego area "has gotten dramatically worse overnight."
As the sun rose in Southern California, "we're faced with a situation ... which is worse than many of us could've imagined," Metcalf said.
Authorities ordered thousands of Southern Californians to evacuate Sunday and Monday as at least 12 wildfires, driven by hurricane-force winds, set trees, cars and buildings on fire.
Officials reported at least one death and 17 injuries Sunday.
A long line of vehicles streamed westward out of Ramona, northeast of San Diego, on Monday morning after the mandatory evacuation order as flames of the Witch wildfire closed rapidly on the San Diego County community of 10,000 homes.
The 2003 Cedar fire remains fresh in residents' memories. It killed a dozen people south of Ramona four years ago this week, consuming more than 280,000 acres near the town.
The Witch fire was one of several major wildfires to ignite Sunday around Los Angeles and San Diego, fueled by hot, dry conditions and pushed by fierce Santa Ana winds. The blaze threatened thousands of homes.
Large fires bore down on Malibu, Santa Clarita and two rural communities east of San Diego early Monday as thousands of firefighters battled the blazes.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in seven counties.
The Witch fire moved much faster than expected, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders said, and it penetrated the San Diego city limits early Monday.
Sanders urged San Diegans in the fire's potential path to "collect important belongings so they can evacuate immediately." He said San Diego police would make reverse 911 calls to inform residents to leave their homes.
The Harris fire straddling Highway 94 east of San Diego caused the death and injuries -- including burns to four firefighters. Starting Sunday morning, the blaze had spread more than 20,000 acres by late Sunday, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. It was 5 percent contained, he said.
Thirteen civilians had burns from the Harris fire, said spokeswoman Roxanne Provaznik.
While smaller fires burned late Sunday around Los Angeles, major wildfires threatened the beach community of Malibu and the city of Santa Clarita.
About 1,400 firefighters battled the Malibu fire that started Sunday morning. By late evening, it had spread more than 2,200 acres, destroying 25 structures -- including five homes, a glass company and Malibu Presbyterian Church. Several hundred homes -- including those of movie director James Cameron of "Titantic" fame and singers Olivia Newton-John and Tanya Tucker -- were evacuated.
"All my stage clothing, boots, belts and wardrobe is in that house," Tucker said. "I have so much memorabilia since I just moved from Nashville to Malibu."
The Malibu flames "laid down" a bit, slowing their spread overnight, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said.
The Pacific Coast Highway remained shut down in Malibu.
A larger fire, fueled by wind gusts up to 80 mph, spread more than 12,500 acres around Santa Clarita about 35 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Officials deployed at least 400 firefighters to battle the fire, which destroyed an estimated 17 buildings and threatened 3,800 Santa Clarita Valley homes. Several communities faced mandatory evacuations.
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