A major wildfire in California

More than 82,000 people in Los Angeles, California, have been forced to evacuate their homes over threats posed by a rapidly spreading fire east of the city.

The mass evacuation began on Tuesday when the governor of California declared a state of emergency as around 34,500 buildings were being threatened.

The wildfire, which began on Tuesday in Southern California's Cajon Pass, has so far spread to 18,000 acres and chased 82,000 residents from their homes in less than 12 hours.

"It is a very fast-moving fire, it has wind behind it," said US Forest Service spokeswoman Lyn Sieliet.

The Blue Cut fire, fed by strong winds, bone-dry brush and 100-degree temperatures, has scorched hills, canyons and flatlands.

“We know that we’ve lost structures, it’s unknown how many at this time,” said San Bernardino County Fire Department public information officer Tracey Martinez. “This fire is still raging out of control.”