Another 50 thousand people evacuates their home as fires spread across Southern California.

Wildfires stoked by fierce winds burned unchecked across Southern California for a third day on Tuesday with 300,000 people in San Diego alone evacuated as flames destroyed or threatened homes from humble forest cabins to luxury villas.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sought help from other states as wind-fueled fires burned 356,000 acres. More than 5,700 firefighters backed by helicopters, bulldozers and water-laden aircraft are battling 13 wildfires in seven counties, from San Diego north to Malibu, outside Los Angeles, according to the Web site of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders told people to "stay at home, stay off the freeways" so fire crews and evacuees could keep moving as the winds changed course. He said about 1,000 homes in San Diego County had been destroyed.

"We are in for another very dangerous day today. We may be forced to do very quick and immediate evacuations," said Ron Lane, head of San Diego County office of emergency services.

"We no doubt are going to be issuing additional evacuation notices today," he added, as quoted by Reuters.

Officials said people were cooperating and evacuating quickly, resulting in minimal loss of life, as they remembered the last major fire in 2003 when 15 people died and 5,000 buildings were destroyed.