California wildfire grows, levels dozens of homes

* 10 firefighters injured

* 13,500 people ordered evacuated

* Dozens of homes destroyed, 3,500 threatened

By Mario Anzuoni

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 7 (Reuters) - Wind-whipped flames that incinerated dozens of homes and injured 10 firefighters raged through the central California foothills at the edge of Santa Barbara for a third day on Thursday, forcing thousands of residents to flee threatened neighborhoods.

Even as a newly reinforced crew of 1,400 firefighters battled the blaze, which was being investigated as an arson, the estimated size of the conflagration had nearly tripled by daybreak to roughly 1,300 acres (525 hectares), authorities said.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has spent recent days promoting wildfire safety throughout the state, visited the site of the first major fire of the year and said dozens of homes have been destroyed.

Another 3,500 remained threatened and authorities ordered 13,500 people to evacuate their homes, he said.

A handful of homeowners ignored warnings to flee and stayed behind in a bid to help save their own houses.

"I didn't want to lose my home. It's that simple," homeowner Albert Lindemann told KTLA-TV news, adding that his house ultimately was saved by firefighters who arrived just in time.

"I thought we were going to die," he said. "Until I started seeing those firemen coming in there, I didn't think any human being could be out there."

Authorities said rugged terrain, thick brush and gale-force winds made it difficult to gain an upper hand on the blaze. Winds died down overnight, allowing an aerial assault by water-dropping helicopters to continue round-the-clock.

But weather forecasters said dry, hot winds were expected to flare up again on Thursday, with gusts of up to 65 mph (100 kph) expected until Friday morning.

As of Thursday, 10 firefighters have been injured, including three whose engine was overrun by flames on Wednesday while they struggled to save a home. They were reported to be in serious condition but expected to recover.

Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for Santa Barbara County on Wednesday, a move that frees up additional funds and equipment. The firefighting force also was beefed up overnight, growing from more than 900 personnel to about 1,400, with additional helicopters and airplanes joining the battle.

Last November, more than 200 homes were destroyed in Santa Barbara and surrounding communities in a brush fire that was blamed on a bonfire started by local students.

(Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Mary Milliken and Cynthia Osterman)