California governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency as thousands of firefighters battled wind gusts in excess of 50 miles per hour as 14 wildfires, several out of control in eight Northern California counties burned more than 57,000 acres or 23,000 hectares since late Sunday.

Meanwhile, a wildfire torched a handful of homes in Southern California in the affluent Anaheim Hills neighborhood in Orange County  authorities in the cities of Anaheim ordered hundreds of residents to evacuate.

Mass evacuations are underway in Napa, Sonoma and Yuba Counties, NBC reported. TV news footage showed hurried evacuations of patients outside a Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Napa County.

There was no immediate word on how many structures had been damaged or destroyed in the various fires.

Fire officials have issued red flag warnings in the area because of continued gusty winds and dry conditions, a sign that the fire risk for the region remains elevated.

Vice President Mike Pence assures residents of full federal support as firefighters battle a spate of wildfires across the region.

( Abi Valdez / UNTV Correspondent )

Tags: California, fires, State of emergency