At least two people have been killed as a trio of fast-growing wildfires near Los Angeles destroyed hundreds of buildings, scorched hillsides and prompted officials to order some 70,000 people to evacuate their homes.
Fierce winds have been hindering firefighting efforts and fuelling the fires, which have expanded unimpeded since they began yesterday.
"Unfortunately, we have two reported fatalities to civilians, unknown cause at this time, and we do have a number of significant injuries," Los Angeles Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told reporters.
At least one firefighter was injured battling a blaze near the upmarket Pacific Palisades neighborhood, US media said, with reports of several other people having suffered burns.
Vicious gusts fanned the flames, whipping red-hot embers hundreds of meters, sparking new spot fires faster than helpless firefighters could quell them.
The biggest blaze had consumed more than 5,000 acres in the picturesque Pacific Palisades neighborhood, which lies east of Los Angeles between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu and is home to many film, television and music stars.
More than 1,000 structures have been destroyed, Mr Marrone said at a news conference.
Another fire, the Eaton fire, had grown to more than 2,000 acres as it burned some 50km inland in Altadena, near Pasadena.
The Hurst fire, in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles, had exceeded 500 acres.
All three fires were 0% contained, officials said.
A " high number" of significant injuries had occurred among residents who did not need evacuation orders, Mr Marrone said.
Officials warned that the gusty winds were forecast to persist throughout the day.
"We are absolutely not out of danger yet, with the strong winds that continue to push through the city and the county today," Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristen Crowley said.
City mayor Karen Bass warned that the "windstorm is expected to worsen through the morning" in a post on X earlier today.
Some firefighters were facing water shortages at hydrants in the Palisades, the Los Angeles Times reported, in a fire that has so far consumed almost 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares).
At the 2,200-acre Eaton fire around Altadena, north of Los Angeles, an AFP journalist saw emergency workers rushing elderly patients in wheelchairs out of their care facility.
A third fire was burning around Santa Clarita.
The blaze at Pacific Palisades has already claimed dozens of homes in one of California's most desirable spots, where Hollywood celebrities are among those who live in mutli-million dollar houses.
Emmy-award-winning actor James Woods posted a video showing flames engulfing trees and bushes near his home as he got ready to evacuate, and said all the fire alarms were going off.
"I couldn't believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one," Mr Woods said.
Wildfires delay Screen Actor Guild Awards nominations announcement
Events throughout the area were cancelled, including a red-carpet premiere of Jennifer Lopez's new film "Unstoppable," while the Screen Actors Guild Award said Wednesday's in-person nominations ceremony would be replaced with a press release.
US President Joe Biden said yesterday evening that he was "being frequently briefed on the wildfires" and had offered federal aid if needed.
The first wildfire erupted yesterday morning and swelled quickly, taking many residents by surprise.
Pacific Palisades resident Andrew Hires told AFP he got a text alerting him to the fire as his child was at the dentist about to have a tooth extracted.
"We pulled off the mask and ran to the car," he said.
Trees and vegetation around the Getty Villa were burned, but the structure and collections were spared, the museum said.
The Getty, set up by US oil billionaire and collector J. Paul Getty and one of the world's richest art museums, houses Greek and Roman antiquities in a replica Roman country home.
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The fire came as the area was being hit by seasonal Santa Ana winds that forecasters said could develop into the worst windstorm in a decade, with gusts of up to 160kmph.
"This looks pretty concerning," said meteorologist Daniel Swain.
Wildfires are part of life in the US West and play a vital role in nature.
However scientists say human-caused climate change is altering weather patterns.
Southern California had two decades of drought that were followed by two exceptionally wet years, which sparked furious vegetative growth - leaving the region packed with fuel and primed to burn.
Evacuee Kelsey Trainor said she saw the fire explode in size as she was fleeing.
"By the time we got to the bottom of the hill, which is about two or three miles, there were flames on both sides of the road, and it became gridlocked," she said.
"No one knew what to do. Everyone was honking their horns. There's flames all around you.
"I could see people walking with suitcases, with their dogs, children. An elderly woman was really visibly upset and in tears."
Pacific Palisades resident Andrew Hires told AFP he got a text alerting him to the fire as his child was at the dentist about to have a tooth extracted.
"We pulled off the mask and ran to the car," he said.
Cindy Festa, another Pacific Palisades resident, said that as she evacuated out of the canyon fires were "this close to the cars," demonstrating with her thumb and forefinger.
"People left their cars on Palisades Drive. Burning up the hillside. The palm trees - everything is going," Ms Festa said from her car.
Near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, two vehicles burned while firefighters battled a large blaze just up the hill and others barricaded their station by parking firetrucks out front.
Personal Fire Update: 7pm-Evacuated Malibu so last-minute there small fires on both sides of the road as we approached PCH. 8:15 pm- Marilou, Trixie & I arrive at Chelsea's house in Hollywood Most horrific fire since '93 🔥🔥STAY SAFE! 🙏 🔥🔥
— Mark Hamill (@markhamillofficial.bsky.social) 8 January 2025 at 04:45
Before the fire started, the National Weather Service had issued its highest alert for extreme fire conditions for much of Los Angeles County from yesterday until tomorrow.
"In other words, this is about as bad as it gets in terms of fire weather," the Los Angeles office of the National Weather Service said on X.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ordered emergency measures that mobilised city departments to prepare for downed power lines and trees likely to cause power outages.
Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Erik Scott urged against complacency because of cool winter weather, warning of "explosive wildfire behaviour" in a public service message.
The fire came as the area was being hit by seasonal Santa Ana winds that forecasters said could develop into the worst windstorm in a decade, with gusts of up to 160km/h expected.
"This looks pretty, pretty concerning," said meteorologist Daniel Swain.
With a huge pall of smoke visible over the whole of Los Angeles, events throughout the area were cancelled, including a red-carpet premiere of Jennifer Lopez's new film "Unstoppable."
California Governor Gavin Newsom said President Biden has approved federal aid to help firefighters respond to the conflagration.
"No politics, no hand wringing, no kissing the feet. The president of the United States said, 'Yes. What else do you need?'" he told reporters.
Incoming president Donald Trump has previously threatened to withhold wildfire aid from Democrat-run California.
