LOS ANGELES, May 6 (Reuters) - At least two homes were burned on the outskirts of the central California city of Santa Barbara on Wednesday as a wind-whipped wildfire burned in the foothills above the seaside community.

The fire, which first erupted on Tuesday, has charred several hundred acres around Santa Barbara and forced the evacuation of some 2,000 homes.

There were no immediate reports of injury but television images showed at least two large homes engulfed in flames as firefighters fought to keep the flames away from neighborhoods.

Fire officials were asking for aid from fire crews across the state as night fell and winds were expected to pick up at sundown.

The fire was being investigated as an arson.

More than 200 homes were destroyed in Santa Barbara and surrounding communities in a November brush fire that was blamed on a campfire started by local students. (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Eric Walsh)

AlertNet news is provided by