New Zealand's consul general to America Maurice Williamson prepares to evacuate as California wildfires move at football field a second

Flames consume a structure as a wildfire burns in Casitas Springs, California. Photo / AP

New Zealand's ambassador to the US may have to evacuate his home as scorching fires move the length of a football field a second.

Four huge fires have ripped across tinder-dry Southern California since Tuesday morning (NZT) incinerating almost 48,600ha as of this morning.

It has been called the worst fire season and 150,000 people - which he compared to the equivalent of the population of Hamilton - have been evacuated as multi-million dollar homes are destroyed.

New Zealand's consul general to the United States Maurice Williamson lives in Brentwood, next to the posh suburb Bel Air, which is already ablaze. He told Newstalk ZB's Early Edition it was like living in Kohimarama and having the fire in St Heliers.

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It was touch and go on whether he would have to evacuate, depending on the wind direction.

"When those winds come though they fan those flames so much and they jump big distances. One fire chief yesterday said the fire was moving at the length of a football field per second.

"I would have thought 'the fire's coming I'll pack up the dog and get in the car'. You don't get that chance when it comes at that speed. If those embers blow across the top of you and hit some of the dry bush here, by the time you're about to get out, the fire has completely encircled you and you're gone."

About 15 multi-million dollar mansions have been destroyed in the posh suburb of Bel Air, Williamson said, but no one has died. Officials were able to send texts through cellphone towers that only go to certain areas and first responders had swept through suburbs doing mandatory evacuations.

Officials had closed 265 schools and advised residents to limit outdoor activities, including exercise, as thick plumes of smoke cause intense air pollution.

California fires seen from SPACE: Shocking NASA picture shows severe damage nearing Los Angeles as smoke billows into ocean https://t.co/RZI27r7PD4 pic.twitter.com/3oFy39n6sY

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Bel Air's Skirball fire is about 5 per cent contained. If it continues into the west Hollywood canyons they will turn into a "fire pit" and they would lose million dollar homes "left, right and centre", Williamson said.

"The flames are leaping into the air higher than you'd see coming out of a big gas factory. It's just horrendous.

"It was just scarlet red moon last night. It was like you we're living on another planet. The smoke is so dense."

Winds of 80km/h were expected today as the Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index coded the forecast as "purple" for the first time - which means "extreme".

For the first time ever, the wind forecast for Southern California is color-coded purple – which means “extreme” https://t.co/UGmNhssBZw pic.twitter.com/gWuZOP6Mh6

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Williamson said the fires were exacerbated by a drought that has hung over California for years. This combined with low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds has created the perfect storm for the fires.

"In the canyon, everyone loves the privacy of living among the bush. It's a little bit like living in the Waitakere Ranges. These people love all this privacy but of course they've got this tinder dry bush waiting to explode.

"Everybody is watching it and hopeful that it doesn't come to pass the winds are that strong."