A new wildfire was reported today at 8:15 a.m. in Los Angeles County. Barrel Fire has been burning on private land. At this time, the containment status is unknown and the cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Conditions have been ripe for wildfires thanks to a combination of an exceptionally dry period - downtown LA has only received 0.16 inches (0.4cm) of rain since October - and powerful offshore gusts known as the Santa Ana winds. A political row about the city's preparedness has erupted after it emerged some fire crews' hoses ran dry.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, who have established centers across Los Angeles County to aid victims through the recovery process, have offered guidance on how important proof of identify documents can be replaced if lost in the wildfires.