The Hughes Fire, near the Castaic Lake area, spread to more than 10,000 acres as the smaller Sepulveda Laguna fires broke out.

For more than a week, the skies above Los Angeles have buzzed with helicopters, aeroplanes, and drones battling the most devastating fires in southern California history. Helicopters in particular - able to drop vast volumes of water precisely and fly at night - have helped turn the tide against the wind-fuelled infernos that have killed at least 27 people and devoured thousands of buildings.

An explosive new wildfire erupted north of Los Angeles on Wednesday, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes and setting nerves jangling in an area still reeling from two deadly blazes.