“Wildfires have roared through canyons, hillsides and residential areas in densely populated Southern California for a fourth day, while gusting winds hampered firefighters’ efforts to knock down the flames.
“Some 200,000 people have evacuated ahead of the fires, which have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced hundreds of Los Angeles-area schools to close.
“Authorities fear the four major fires — ranging from Los Angeles up the Pacific coast to Santa Barbara County — could be whipped up by the region’s notorious westward Santa Ana winds that could reach hurricane strength.
“The winds, which blow in hot and dry from the California desert, could reach 120 kilometres per hour and create “extreme fire danger,” according to an alert sent by the countywide emergency system in Los Angeles.”
Read more at ABC