In stark contrast to his Hollywood image and the usual inauguration festivities, California Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger planned to take office today with a quick, low-key ceremony and then get to work.

Ash fell on the beach like snow as California’s deadliest outbreak of fires in more than a decade destroyed more than 1,100 homes, killed at least 15 people and consumed land from south of the Mexican border to the suburbs north of Los Angeles.

Wildfires merged into walls of flame stretching across miles in parts of Southern California, leaving 13 people dead, burning 650 homes and frustrating overmatched firefighters who worked relentlessly against fierce winds.

US President George W Bush is scheduled to shake hands with new California governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger today, the first time the pair have met since Schwarzenegger’s triumph at the polls last week

California’s governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger introduced key members of his transition team and gave them his first order – to conduct an audit to find out the true extent of the state’s budget deficit.