Fire seems to have become the curse of southern California.

This blaze engulfed a yard packed with wooden shipping pallets in an industrial area of San Bernadino.

The towering stacks of pallets erupted into massive bonfires as fire-fighers tried to tackle the flames from the tops of ladders.

Smaller spot fires started in nearby brush as winds whipped away smoke and embers.

It's a further headache for firefighters in Southern California where fierce wildfires are threatening thousands of homes north-west of Los Angeles.

They've been fanned by high winds and record temperatures which are finally easing.