Thousands on the run: Another fire breaks out in Los Angeles!

By Barbara Munker, Laura Almanza

Los Angeles - The wildfires around the US metropolis of Los Angeles are coming to a head.

A third fire near the town of San Fernando north of Los Angeles has spread over an area of more than two square kilometers, according to authorities.

Residents of surrounding communities have been forced to evacuate their homes.

At least two other fires are raging near the West Coast metropolis. According to the authorities, the largest of these near the Pacific Palisades district now covers an area of almost twelve square kilometers.

Another fire is burning near the city of Pasadena in the north-east of Los Angeles, covering an area of more than four square kilometers.

All three fires have not yet been contained. Evacuation orders are in place for tens of thousands of people. Several people have suffered burn injuries, reported the Los Angeles Times.

Strong winds with speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour could further exacerbate the situation in the coming hours, a spokesman for the fire protection authority Cal Fire told CNN.

"New fires are shooting out of the ground as we speak."

The cause of the fires and the extent of the damage are not yet known. The media report that several buildings have been destroyed, including a synagogue in Pasadena.

Numerous houses have also reportedly burned down in the affluent Pacific Palisades district, where stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, Tom Hanks and Reese Witherspoon have homes.

More than 52,000 people have had to leave their homes due to the fierce fires near Los Angeles. Almost 21,000 buildings are currently threatened by the flames.