San Francisco, Aug 14 (DPA) A wildfire in northern California Thursday caused thousands of people to flee their homes near Santa Cruz.

More than 2,000 people were evacuated and more than a thousand buildings in the town of Bonny Doon were in danger, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported.

Hundreds of firefighters were battling to save homes from the flames that have destroyed 1,000 hectares since the fire broke out late Wednesday.

Last summer the rural area between Santa Cruz and San Francisco was also threatened by wildfires that destroyed three homes.