Despite massive efforts by firefighters, two wildfires in California spread on Friday, the German news agency "DPA" reported. A state of emergency was declared in the Santa Cruz mountains about 100 kilometres south of San Francisco. The declaration will allow money and aid to quickly be put toward the firefight. As many as 700 firefighters are working to contain the blaze in difficult to access valleys and canyons near the Pacific coast. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, at least 250 homes were in danger Friday. More than 2,000 residents were called on to evacuate on Thursday. Tourists and onlookers shot photos of the flames and firefighting efforts from the scenic Highway 1. The cause of the fire, which broke out Wednesday, remains unclear. Elsewhere in the state, steep hills and deep gorges hindered firefighting efforts near Santa Barbara, where 150 homes were threatened by wildfires. 1,600 firefighters were working to combat that blaze. In May, a large fire near Santa Barbara destroyed 77 homes.
