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.

Fire bosses declared progress today in taming the 226-square-mile arson fire north of Los Angeles that has led to a homicide investigation into the deaths of two firefighters.

FIREFIGHTERS made more progress yesterday against a giant wildfire that has ravaged a national forest north of Los Angeles, with another day of co-operative weather a big help to beleaguered fire crews.

A van carrying workers to Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory tumbled 200 feet off a mountain road today, killing at least four people and trapping five others, officials said.