A wildfire threatening thousands of homes in Southern California spread slowly through scenic canyonlands, straining resources as crews struggled to contain hundreds of other blazes around the state.

FIREFIGHTERS struggled yesterday to prevent a fire that has charred nearly 39 square miles of brushland from crossing Interstate 5, which would force authorities to again shut down traffic on one of California’s busiest freeways.

Southern California’s first wildfires of the season burned homes and brushlands and forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes.

Thousands of people were evacuated today as California firefighters battled to save homes from a wildfire that grew rapidly during the night.

A man suspected of murdering three members of a family in California has killed himself as police closed in on him.