California ? Paradise is not lost, but it’s in flames — again.

The seasonal wildfires that menace the city of Santa Barbara roared to life earlier than usual but with all-too-familiar ferocity, damaging or destroying 75 homes and forcing about 12,000 people to flee.

The fire was just the latest to ravage the area known as the American Riviera, home to screen stars, former presidents and Oprah Winfrey. The blaze reached the burn area of another wildfire that just six months ago destroyed about 200 homes in Santa Barbara and Montecito.

By day’s end, state officials said the latest fire grew from 1,300 acres to more than 2,700 acres — roughly 4 square miles.