Thousands of firefighters battle California blaze as colleague's funeral is held

Thousands of firefighters tried to shield coastal communities from one of the biggest wildfires in California's history as a funeral procession was held in honour of one of their colleagues who was killed battling the flames.

Crews cleared brush and dug containment lines above hillside neighbourhoods in Santa Barbara County, taking advantage of slightly calmer winds a day after gusts fanned a flare-up that prompted more evacuations.