Firefighters battling a fast-moving Southern California blaze say it has nearly tripled in size in a matter of hours.

A huge southern California wildfire carved a path to the sea and burned on the beach yesterday, but firefighters got a break as gusty Santa Ana winds turned into breezes.

Firefighters battling a huge Southern California wildfire have ordered new evacuations in a neighbourhood overlooking canyons where flames are surging.

GYPSY BOOTS, a California fitness icon, author and health guru who paved the way for generations of beatniks, hippies and health-food junkies, has died in Los Angeles. He was 89.