The fatality occurred in San Diego County, The Los Angeles Times reported, in one of a series of wildfires that burned from Santa Barbara to the Mexico border, as the region suffered through record-setting drought.

A fire near Pacific Coast Highway -- touched off by downed power lines -- set shops ablaze at the Malibu Colony Shopping Center. A First Bank and Trust building was destroyed when fire caused its Spanish-style tower to collapse, Times said, and a nearby Presbyterian church burned to the ground.

Firefighters struggled to save beach-front homes -- some already affected by spot fires -- located near the shopping center.

Flames in Malibu Canyon forced Pepperdine University and surrounding neighborhoods to be evacuated. Officials said thousands of homes would be threatened by the fires.

A separate fire burned more than 500 acres west of the Golden State Freeway in the Angeles National Forest, reported KNX-AM radio.

The Angeles National Forest blaze threatened homes and a condor preserve if it continued to push south and southwest, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Stanton Florea. A third fire threatened homes north of Porter Ranch in the northern San Fernando Valley.

Winds gusting at more than 50 mph from winds blowing south made firefighters' work more difficult, CNN reported.

Firefighters braced for the possibility of even stronger winds Sunday night.