California wildfires burn amid high risk of brutal blazes

California Wildfires

Bone-dry vegetation fuelled three wildfires near Los Angeles amid warnings Friday that the risk of new blazes erupting was high, as temperatures spike and humidity levels drop during a statewide heatwave.

A huge forest fire that prompted evacuations north of Los Angeles was just 12% contained, and after threatening more than 5,400 homes, it had charred more than 18 square miles of brush and trees.