Wildfires spread across California

More than 950 firefighters built barriers around about 20 per cent of the inferno, which has blackened more than 43 square miles of dry brush and chaparral since erupting on Thursday morning.

More firefighters were said to be on the way and fire officials said they hoped that diminishing winds and higher humidity would help them make headway.

Fire managers said they expected that it would take until next Monday to fully contain the blaze, which sent a pall of thick smoke drifting over the beach community of Malibu and farther inland across Los Angeles County.