A wildfire tore through Los Angeles’ northern foothills early today sending thousands of residents fleeing in the dark, forcing a hospital to evacuate and destroying an untold number of homes.

Soul legend Stevie Wonder has dismissed reports his Los Angeles home has been reduced to ashes by the outbreak of wildfires in California.

Two wildfires driven by strong winds threatened neighbourhoods near Los Angeles today, killing one person, destroying several dozen mobile homes and forcing evacuations.

An unemployed man with an advanced finance degree who was despondent over his own financial problems shot and killed his wife, three children, mother-in-law and then himself in an upscale home in a gated community, Los Angeles police said today.