Firefighters battling wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes in Southern California were today aided by calmer winds.

Evacuated residents of a wealthy part of California were returning today to see whether their homes survived a wildfire.

A wildfire fanned by Santa Ana winds destroyed four seaside mansions and damaged at least two others early today as it spread over more than 20 acres in California’s Malibu celebrity enclave.

Calming winds have helped firefighters battle a 4,000-acre wildfire that prompted a voluntary evacuation of about 200 ridge-top homes.

Wind-driven brush fires scorched nearly 2,500 acres north of Los Angeles, killing thousands of chickens at a farm while destroying at least one home and threatening others.