LOS ANGELES.- Several hundred firefighters were deployed to tackle blazes in Florida and California, where record dry weather and high temperatures have forced authorities to maintain a state of near-perpetual alert.

Around 500 firefighters were trying to extinguish a fire on Santa Catalina Island, a nature reserve and popular destination for day-trippers off the coast of southern California near Los Angeles.

The fire tore through more than 4,200 acres after erupting suddenly last Thursday. Initial efforts to contain the blaze were hampered by rugged terrain which rendered many of the hotspots inaccessible.

However a drop in winds last Friday and increased humidity allowed firefighters to make significant inroads into the blaze.

Speaking shortly after 5pm, a Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman said the fire was now 35 per cent contained, up from 10 per cent earlier last Friday.

"We've made some good progress and we are now allowing all evacuated residents to return home," the spokesman said.

Around 1,000 people were evacuated after the fire reached the borders of the island's main town Avalon last Thursday.

One home, a commercial property and several outbuildings were destroyed in the fire, which was being bombarded by 10 water-dropping helicopters and five fixed-wing aircraft. There were no reports of injuries.

Firefighting equipment had been brought in overnight by US Navy hovercrafts from the US Marines Camp Pendleton base in San Diego County.

The fire came after a blaze devastated more than 800 acres of Los Angeles' historic Griffith Park earlier this week. City fire officials said they expected the fire in the park to be declared 100 per cent contained.