California inferno rages out-of-control as arson investigation launched

The devastating wildfires in California are continuing to spread despite the efforts of firefighters. More than 10,000 homes and other buildings have been destroyed with entire neighbourhoods reduced to ashes.

180,000 people have been told to leave their homes with hundreds of thousands more on high alert.

Arson investigators are looking into the cause of one of the major fires, in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angleles. Five people are known to have died and the authorities say if fires were started deliberately deaths will be treated as murder. There are some reports of looting with more than 20 arrests.

Fire authorities are admitting they do not have enough resources to tackle the biggest wildfires ever seen in the Los Angeles area. Strong winds and a shortage of water are hampering efforts to control the flames.