Fires roared through Malibu, the Santa Rosa Valley and across Southern California on Sunday, fueled by dry brush and fanned by Santa Ana winds gusting more than 50 mph.

One fire destroyed a church, five homes, two commercial buildings and three businesses in Malibu, forcing hundreds of residents to escape with their valuables and animals ahead of clouds of choking smoke and ash. Sixteen other homes and five businesses also were damaged. One firefighter was slightly injured.

The Malibu fire was among at least 10 blazes that burned more than 20,000 acres Sunday, stretching from north of Santa Barbara to San Diego. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in seven Southern California counties, including Ventura.

In Ventura County, firefighters battled a blaze that moved west of Piru toward Fillmore on Sunday night, burning as many as 6,000 acres, and in the Santa Rosa Valley, 40 acres burned and 250 homes were threatened.

The Malibu fire started around 5 a.m. in Malibu Canyon, just east of Pepperdine University. By 10 p.m., it had burned 2,200 acres and was 10 percent contained.

Officials believe that the fire may have started when power lines were blown down, but there is no official determination of the cause.

Firefighters will be fighting the blaze all week and aren't expecting any help from the weather, Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Kurt Schaefer said. The erratic winds, which are expected to blow through Tuesday, could change the direction of the fire at any time, he said. The winds also made it difficult to approach the fire safely and to drop water accurately.

"We are just at the beginning of our wind event," he said. "Anyone in this general area of Malibu needs to put themselves on alert, and they need to be prepared to evacuate."

The fire burned southeast from Malibu Canyon and by late morning had reached Malibu's central business district along Pacific Coast Highway.

Schaefer said officials aimed to keep it south of Mulholland Highway, west of Las Flores Canyon and east of Corral Canyon. More than 700 firefighters were fighting the blaze Sunday.

By Sunday afternoon, the flames were within about 10 yards of homes and businesses on the north side of PCH. Residents and business owners stood on their roofs and hosed down their properties. One person had landscapers douse a home with fire-retardant foam.

Nearly every business along PCH was closed, except for Colony House Liquors. Manager Michel Kerbage said he didn't consider closing even when the fire started to come down the hillside behind the store.

"Business is wonderful today," he said as a group of firefighters came in for soft drinks.

One Malibu resident, who gave only her first name, Lisa, was getting ready with her husband to leave their home on PCH. Putting photos and paperwork in the car, she said she was reluctant to leave because she had an 11-year-old iguana in a big tank in her home and wasn't able to move it.

"We're waiting until it gets right at our building," she said. "I feel safe here. The firefighters are doing a good job."

Andrew Kaufman took refuge from the smoke at the Malibu Country Mart near the ocean.

"It's been really bad for most of the day," said Kaufman, wearing a blue bandanna around his face as he sat in his car.

As Kaufman spoke, the wildfire consumed the landmark Castle Kashan, a stately fortesslike home with turrets and arched windows. Chunks of brick fell from the exterior of the burning building overlooking the coast.

The fire also toppled a Spanish-style tower at the Malibu Colony Plaza shopping center next to PCH, damaging four businesses.

"We're lucky it wasn't worse," Malibu resident Celia Andrews said.

Andrews, who lives off Malibu Canyon Road, said she felt lucky that her home was not damaged.

"For a while, it looked as if the fire could go any way," she said.

By midafternoon, much of the fire seemed to be centered on an area two miles east of Malibu Country Mart. The fire brought thick smoke to that part of PCH, which is dotted with stores and other outlets.

"I wouldn't be surprised if some of the buildings there don't make it," said Stu McNelis, manager of the Malibu Country Mart.

Sunday's fires began nearly four years to the day after two of the most damaging wildfires in Ventura County history.

On Oct. 25, 2003, the Simi Valley fire broke out. It caused no deaths, but burned 108,204 acres in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and destroyed 37 homes and 27 outbuildings.

Two days earlier, on Oct. 23, the Piru fire started. It caused no deaths, but burned 63,991 acres in Ventura County and destroyed one home, one commercial structure and six outbuildings.

About 1,500 people have been evacuated from the Malibu fire, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman said. The fire department ordered evacuations in the Carbon Canyon and Big Rock areas, and lower Topanga Canyon and La Tuna Canyon. Residents of those areas can bring their large animals to Pierce College in Woodland Hills.

At Pepperdine University, where the fire department set up a command post, roughly 2,000 students, faculty and staff were being sheltered in three buildings on campus, spokesman Jerry Derloshon said.

PCH was closed between Kanan Dume Road to the west and Topanga Canyon Boulevard to the east. Malibu Canyon Road was closed between PCH and Piuma Road.

Agoura High School has been set up as an evacuation center, and Malibu High School will serve as an information center. Also, sheriff's deputies will be posted along PCH to help people.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.