Los Angeles: Residents from about 200 homes are being evacuated as a fierce wildfire spread in a mountainous area about 96 km northwest of Los Angeles, US.

The fire started around 12.25 p.m. Tuesday near the hills in the Lebec Oaks Road area of Kern county, Sean Collins, a spokesman for the Kern County Fire Department told the Los Angeles Times.

An hour later, residents in the area were told to leave their homes, he said.

Strong winds and high humidity contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, which officials said has already burnt an estimated 750 acres of dry bushes in the area.

Water-dropping airplanes and helicopters have been sent to control the inferno, authorities said.

BDST: 1057 HRS, August 25, 2010