Los Angeles firefighters, given a brief pause from fierce winds fanning wildfires in recent days, were preparing for gusts to pick up again, exacerbating what officials say could be one of the worst natural disasters in US history, reported German news agency dpa.

The US weather service forecast wind speeds of up to 110kph for Sunday afternoon, which, combined with dry vegetation, favours the rapid and unpredictable spread of both existing and new fires.