At least five people have died and 130,000 others have been evacuated from their homes as further fires have broken out in California.

Some of the area's most upmarket celebrity neighbourhoods have been destroyed as strong winds fan the flames.

Officials have been criticised for allowing hydrants to run dry and some communities are being told to boil water before using it.

President Biden has cancelled a planned trip to the Vatican and is monitoring the situation from Washington.

“Those who fled their homes, especially those who have lost your homes, our hearts are breaking for you, and we stand with you,” the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, said.

Water is dropped by helicopter on the burning Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles. 08/01/2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

The Oscar nomination announcement has been pushed back due to these wildfires.

Paris Hilton and Oscar-winning songwriter Diane Warren are among stars who've lost homes.

Robbie Williams' LA premiere of his biopic ‘Better Man’ was postponed last night.

“Waking up to lots of my friends’ houses disappearing,” Mr Williams said.

“Yeah, I'm just sending loads of love and power and strength to the firefighters right now, who are doing an incredible job - stay safe, everybody.”

The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. 08/01/2025 (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Elsewhere in America, a special service honouring former US president Jimmy Carter will be held in Washington DC later.

This will bring a nearly week-long state funeral to a close following the Nobel Peace Prize winner's death last month, aged 100.

Outgoing leader Joe Biden is expected to deliver a eulogy - with Donald Trump also attending.

Earlier this week, the president-elect criticised Mr Carter over his decades-old decision to relinquish control of the Panama Canal.

“Giving up the Panama Canal is why Jimmy Carter lost the election, in my opinion,” Mr Trump said.

“Nobody wants to talk about the Panama Canal because, you know, it's inappropriate, I guess.

“[Mr Carter] was a good man, look, he was a good man - I knew him a little bit and he was a very fine person, but that was a big mistake.”

Main image: The Palisades Fire burns homes on a hilltop in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. 08/01/2025 (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)