Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted the second week of January and roared across the Los Angeles area.

Dozens of people are believed to have died in the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have burned down whole swaths of communities

At least 28 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires rage across Southern California.

Twenty-seven people have died across the Los Angeles area. Officials have said the true death toll isn’t known as the fires continue to burn.

It occurred at about 11:05 p.m. about 10 miles northwest of Malibu, according to the United States Geological Survey​

Firefighters in Southern California are once again battling a wildfire, this time in Castaic in Los Angeles County, north of Los Angeles itself. Evacuation orders have been issued for the surrounding areas.

Amid the tragedy a look at the before and after pictures of neighbourhoods from Malibu, to Hollywood Hills, Pasadena and the Los Angeles skyline.

California officials will reopen some Palisades Fire evacuation zones, as law enforcement ramps up security to address looting.

On Wednesday at 1:51 p.m. the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA issued an updated wind advisory valid from 2 p.m. until Thursday 2 p.m. The advisory is for Ventura County Beaches, Ventura County Inland Coast,

Two wildfires still burning in Los Angeles have torched more urban area than any other fire in the state since at least the mid-1980s.

Fires across the Los Angeles area have killed more than two dozen people. Weaker winds enabled firefighters to make inroads containing the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Forecasters in Southern California expect to issue a 'particularly dangerous situation' red flag warning for the coming week as the Santa Ana wind forecast worsens.