The extraordinary manhunt for the former Los Angeles policeman suspected of three murders converged on a mountain cabin where it is believed he barricaded himself inside, engaged in a shoot-out that killed a deputy and never emerged as the home went up in flames.

A man police believe to be the fugitive ex-Los Angeles officer wanted for three killings was barricaded inside a burning cabin today after a shootout in a California mountain town that left one deputy dead and another wounded.

A fugitive ex-Los Angeles cop sought in three killings was barricaded in a cabin in the San Bernardino Mountains last night after a shootout with authorities that wounded two officers.

A fugitive ex-Los Angeles police officer wanted for three killings is barricaded in a cabin in the Southern California mountains, authorities said today.

A $1m (€747,000) reward has prompted numerous tips to authorities seeking a fired Los Angeles police officer suspected of killing three people.

A strong rotten egg smell had Southern Californians plugging their noses and crying foul as air quality experts scrambled to determine if the sulphurous scent was coming from the Salton Sea.

A rehabilitation worker told an emergency dispatcher that she ordered Lindsay Lohan to pack her bags and leave the Betty Ford Centre after the actress hit her during an argument, according to a recording of the call.

Lindsay Lohan has one less legal worry after prosecutors announced they would not pursue any charges against her over a December scuffle with a rehab worker.

A judge has told Lindsay Lohan he will send her to jail if she accepts a plea deal from prosecutors to avoid trial for allegedly stealing a $2,500 necklace from an upmarket jewellery store.

Actress Lindsay Lohan pleaded not guilty to felony grand theft of a US$2,500 (€1,827) necklace - the most serious charge yet filed against the troubled starlet who has wrestled with drug and alcohol abuse for years.

US prosecutors said they plan to charge Lindsay Lohan with felony grand theft of a $2,500 (€1,800) necklace reported stolen from a jewellery store last month - the most serious count the actress has faced in more than three years of trouble with the law.

Lindsay Lohan’s lawyer has denied claims that the troubled actress stole a €1,830 necklace.

Troubled actress Lindsay Lohan was facing possible theft charges today after police obtained a search warrant to look for a $2,500 (€1,810) stolen necklace at her California home.

The Riverside County district attorney’s office wants another investigation before deciding whether Lindsay Lohan will be charged with battery for last month’s skirmish with a Betty Ford Centre rehabilitation technician.

Police want Lindsay Lohan charged with battery over her skirmish with a Betty Ford Centre rehab technician.

Actress Lindsay Lohan faces being charged with assault over last month’s clash with a rehab centre worker.

The Betty Ford Centre said today the renowned rehab clinic had sacked an employee who accused actress Lindsay Lohan of attacking her.

Los Angeles appeared surrounded by flames today, with three wildfires consuming spacious mansions and tiny mobile homes at the edges where bone-dry wilderness meets burgeoning development.

Current US economic troubles are proof that Muslims were on the verge of victory, a prominent American member of al-Qaida said in an English-language video released today.

Five people died when two private planes flying about a mile from an airport collided, raining debris down on car dealerships below, US authorities have said.

Southern California is lining up its fire crews and aircraft to get in first if the hot, dry Santa Ana winds expected to return this weekend cause major flare-ups.

Authorities investigating the California arson attack that killed four firefighters have questioned and released two “persons of interest”, police said today.

Calmer winds helped crews fighting a massive wildfire today that killed four firefighters and critically injured a fifth, while investigators searched for the arsonist who set the blaze roaring through the canyons of Southern California.

Authorities are offering a $500,000 (€393,000) reward for the arrest of the arsonist responsible for the deaths of four firefighters in America’s worst tragedy of its kind in five years.

FIRE crews yesterday struggled to protect homes from a wind-whipped wildfire that trapped and killed four firefighters in a wall of flames as it raced across almost 38 square miles in southern California.

Crews battling a 6,400-acre wildfire scrambled to burn off heavy brush near homes today before a resurgence of the hot, dry Santa Ana winds.

A 16,200-acre wildfire burned out of control early today in the hills and canyons along Los Angeles’ northwestern edge, despite the efforts of thousands of firefighters who held out hope that the weather was on their side.

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.

A strong earthquake struck off the coast of northern California, just hours after a moderate quake shook most of southern California. Neither caused serious damage or injuries.

An investigator for a district attorney’s office was found dead in his sprawling ranch home in Riverside, southern California, along with five other people, including his three children.

As acrid smoke from more than 18,000 acres of charred brush curled skyward today, California officials feared the earlier-than-usual start of the summer wildfires season could make it the most dangerous ever.

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 GIRL aged five found in a Californian ravine survived on dry noodles while remaining near her dead mother following a car crash 10 days ago.

A five-year-old girl found in a Californian ravine survived on dry noodles while remaining near her dead mother following a car crash 10 days ago.

With ash and smoke turning day into night, a wind-driven wildfire closed in on several Southern California communities east of Los Angeles today, destroying four houses and forcing firefighters to make their stand in back gardens.

THOUSANDS were evacuated and two major freeways were closed yesterday as flames, pushed by high winds, jumped ridges and roads in California.

A 24-year-old man has been arrested in the hunt for the killer of the sister of tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams.

A CHILD'S body that resembles an abducted five-year-old American girl was found in a rugged, heavily forested area of a neighbouring county, but officials couldn't immediately say if it was that of missing Samantha Runnion.