A wildfire charred nearly a square mile of steep brush and grassland on Friday, threatening about 50 homes in Southern California.

Residents in Digier Canyon were ordered to leave as about 150 firefighters and 10 aircraft battled the blaze about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles, Kern County fire Capt. Alex Entenman said

The cause of the fire, which was 20 percent contained, was being investigated.

On the opposite coast, North Carolina’s governor declared a state of emergency Friday as firefighters worked to contain a massive wildfire at a federal wildlife refuge that spread smoke as far north as Richmond, Va.

The fire was only 30 percent contained. No injuries or structure damage were reported. Authorities urged the evacuation of about 80 homes.

Officials hoped lighter winds would help them control the blaze that has burned 28,985 acres _ roughly 50 square miles _ in and around the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in eastern North Carolina, about 70 miles south of Norfolk, Va.

Gov. Mike Easley declared a state of emergency in three counties to bring firefighters from multiple agencies under a single authority. He warned that roads _ including U.S. 64, U.S. 264 and three state routes _ could be obscured by smoke.

Fire officials in South Carolina have been battling 10 to 15 small wildfires daily, slightly above normal for this time of year, said state Forestry Commission fire chief Paul Watts.