A judge has refused a last-ditch attempt to stop today's burning down of a Californian home packed with what is believed to be the largest single haul of explosive material in the US.

The lawyer for George Jakubec – who rented the house and is in custody after pleading not guilty to eight charges relating to explosives and bank robbery – had argued that vital defence evidence would be lost in the fire. But the federal court judge ruled that the burn should proceed on the grounds of public safety.

Yesterday evening, local residents in Escondido, near San Diego, were told to start evacuating their homes while final preparations were being made through the night. The burn is due to start today between 9am and 10am local time (5pm - 6pm GMT).

The stash of explosives, bomb making equipment and ammunition was discovered last month after a landscape worker inadvertently set off an explosive.

The Governor of California, Arnold Shwarzenegger, earlier declared a state of emergency for San Diego county.

Fire and hazardous materials experts believe that most of the materials in the house will burn and decompose within 30 minutes. As a precaution, however, firefighters are being positioned around the site and surrounding homes will be sprayed with a protective gel.

Explosives home to be burned as Shwarzenegger orders state of emergency

Watch the burn live on CBS 8 news