Sonoma proper, where 11,000 people live. "It'll go up like a candle."

About 8,000 firefighters and other personnel were battling the blazes and more resources were pouring in from Arizona, Nevada, Washington and Oregon.

The California wildfires have spread in the last 24 hours, to 22 separate conflagarations. (Google)

With fires advancing from several sides in Sonoma Valley, law enforcement officers on loan from other areas of Northern California barred residents of evacuated communities from returning to see how the homes and businesses had fared. They cited the need for emergency personnel to access the areas, and dangerous conditions that included downed power lines and hydro poles that were still smouldering.

Manned roadblocks were set up between Sonoma and devastated areas of Santa Rosa.

Alejandro Rodriguez had been evacuated from one tiny SonomaValley town, only to have deputies come to the neighbourhood to where he had relocated and tell residents there to pack up and go.

"I want to see my house, see if anything's left," Rodriguez said, gesturing at officers at one roadblock. "They won't tell us nothing."

Melted metal from burnt cars is formed on the ground after wildfires ripped through the Coffey Park neighborhood of Santa Rosa on Wednesday. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

In Southern California, cooler weather and moist ocean air helped firefighters gain ground against a wildfire that has scorched nearly 36 square kilometres.

Orange County fire officials said the blaze was 60 per cent contained.

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