The ferocious wildfire burning north of Los Angeles has turned into a creeping giant, steadily chewing through thick and dry chaparral on its eastern flank.

Firefighters today revealed they were finally ’optimistic’ in their struggle to contain huge wildfires in southern California.

A massive wildfire raging in California nearly doubled in size overnight, threatening 12,000 homes in a 20-mile swathe of flame and smoke and surging towards a mountaintop broadcasting complex.