British child star is among LA fire dead

THE death toll from the devastating Los Angeles fires has risen to at least 16, including a British-born former child TV presenter.

- Lucy Thornton

The blazes have left communities "like war zones" as those evacuated from their homes are told they must not return yet.

Cadaver dogs were being used to hunt for human remains after the fire ripped through almost 40,000 acres in a matter of days.

With 13 people still missing, it was a race against time as more deadly fires are expected as 50mph winds hit the area.

More than 179,000 people were under evacuation orders with "fearless" firefighters expected to continue their battle for another two weeks.

A major public health emergency has been declared, with water in some areas tainted and people warned not to swim in the ocean due to contamination from ash.

LA County Sheriff Robert G Luna warned those who had been evacuated to stay away from their homes as "your life is in danger," adding: "Some of these areas, they look like war zones."

Former child star Rory Sykes, 32, was said to have died after his home was burnt to the ground in Malibu.

He was born in Britain and appeared on the show Kiddy Kapers in the 1990s alongside his mum Shelley before the family returned to Australia when he was a child.

His "studio head" mum said motivational speaker Rory, who was blind and had cerebral palsy, "died needlessly".

Shelley explained she had travelled to her local fire department after struggling to get through to the emergency services.

She said she was desperate for help to move her son, who was trapped in his self-contained cottage next to her property as flames surrounded the area.

Shelley said Rory had been too heavy for her to lift because she had a broken arm.

The distraught mother said: "He was my baby and he died needlessly.