At least five people have been killed and at least 70,000 have evacuated as wind-driven wildfires in Southern California continue to rage.
Officials said on Wednesday that the fires have burned more than 1,000 structures and caused numerous injuries, including to first responders.
At least 100,000 people were under evacuation orders as of Wednesday night.
The largest of the fires is the Palisades Fire, which has grown to about 12,000 acres in the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
"Winds gusts up to 60 MPH are expected to continue through Thursday, potentially aiding in further fire activity and suppression efforts," Cal Fire said in an advisory.
Banks, grocery stores and a local library in the neighborhood of Palisades Village have all been destroyed.
The fire, which is now considered the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history, is 0% contained.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday more than 1,400 firefighters were working to contain the blazes. The Los Angeles Fire Department also put out a call asking any off-duty firefighters in the city to assist.
Other aid is coming from nearby: 240 firefighters and 60 engines were expected from Oregon to assist with containment.
A spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris said her Los Angeles house was under evacuation orders, but no one was home when the fire broke out on Tuesday.
"As a proud daughter of California, I know the damage that wildfires have on our neighbors and communities. I also know that the impact is often felt long after the fire is contained. As we respond and as Californians recover, I will ensure that our administration is in constant contact with state and local officials," she said.
Several notable celebrities also have homes in the area of the fires. Jamie Lee Curtis, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks and James Woods were all evacuated.
While most of them wait to find out if their homes survived, Woods said his home was destroyed.
"All the smoke detectors are going off in our house and transmitting to our iPhones. I couldn’t believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one," he said.
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The fire also consumed the Palisades Charter High School, which has been used in multiple movies.
In northern Los Angeles County, officials were battling the Eaton Fire, which had consumed more than 10,000 acres as of Wednesday afternoon. The Pasadena Unified School District closed on Wednesday as the wildfire continued to expand.
Overnight, a wildfire in Sylmar known as the Hurst Fire flared up and quickly consumed 500 acres within a matter of hours.
Severe winds that drove the fires have diminished since Wednesday morning. Gusts that reached 80 miles per hour earlier in the day were down to highs of 45 miles per hour by Wednesday afternoon, giving responders more ability to fly aerial missions as they fought fires.
Fire officials hoped the break in the weather would help them address the Eaton Fire in particular, which remains 0% contained.
"We expect with favorable conditions over the next couple days to start making good progress on this fire," said Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin on Wednesday.
The National Weather Service expected to discontinue high wind warnings in the region later on Wednesday. The Particularly Dangerous Situation level of fire danger was expected to expire at 4p.m. eastern time.
Air quality and dust advisories, however, still affected some 17 million people across southern California due to smoke from the fires.
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President Biden was in California for a planned trip when the fires started on Tuesday. He met with California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday and pledged the full support of the federal government.
"We're prepared to do anything and everything — as long as it takes," President Biden said.
The fires have put a halt to numerous events in Southern California.
An official with the Critics Choice Awards confirmed to Scripps News that the ceremony, originally scheduled for Jan. 12, has been postponed. The NHL also postponed the Los Angeles Kings’ game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended the window for Oscar nominations by two days through January 19, to give Academy members who may be impacted by the fires more time to cast ballots.
