Six simultaneous wildfires have devastated Los Angeles County neighbourhoods since Tuesday, killing at least 11 people, including one Australian man, and damaging or destroying some 10,000 structures.
Those tolls were expected to grow once it was safe enough for firefighters to conduct house-to-house searches.
On Friday night, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Palisades Fire on the city's western edge was heading in a new direction, prompting an evacuation order that included much of the Brentwood neighbourhood and the foothills of the San Fernando Valley.
"The Palisades fire has got a new significant flare-up on the eastern portion and continues to move north east," LA Fire Department Captain Erik Scott told local station KTLA, according to a report on the LA Times website.
The death toll rose to 11 with more fatalities expected once it is safe to search house-to-house. (AP PHOTO)
Before the latest flare-up, firefighters had reported progress arresting the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire in the foothills east of the metropolis.
After burning out of control for days, despite the efforts of hundreds of firefighters attacking the blazes from the air and on the ground, the Palisades Fire was eight per cent contained and the Eaton Fire three per cent. Cal Fire had listed containment levels of both fires at zero per cent until Friday.
Even so, the two big fires combined have consumed 35,000 acres or 2.5 times the land area of Manhattan.
With thousands of people made homeless and the thickening smoke, US officials have declared a public health emergency.
Some 153,000 people remained under evacuation orders and another 166,800 faced evacuation warnings, with a curfew in place for all evacuation zones, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
Seven neighbouring states, the federal government and Canada have rushed aid to California, bolstering aerial teams dropping water and fire retardant on the flaming hills and crews on the ground attacking fire lines with hand tools and hoses.
"Thanks to the increased number of resources assigned, the region is in a much better posture than we were earlier this week," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told a press conference.
Conditions in the Los Angeles area will improve through the weekend, with sustained winds slowing to about 32 km/h, gusting between 56.5 km/h and 80.47 km/h, according to the National Weather Service, a respite from recent wind gusts of 128.75 km/h.
"It's not as gusty, so that should help firefighters," NWS meteorologist Allison Santorelli said, adding that conditions were still critical with low humidity and dry vegetation.
However, forecasters predicted another red flag warning would be issued for Monday.
This is an emergency. This isn't about politics — it's about making sure people are alive.— Governor Newsom (@CAgovernor) I want the President-elect to visit LA County to understand the magnitude of the devastation we're experiencing right now and how we can be partners in recovery. pic.twitter.com/i1l3jGj322January 11, 2025
Pacific Palisades residents who ventured back to their devastated neighbourhoods were shocked to find brick chimneys looming over charred waste and burnt-out vehicles as acrid smoke lingered in the air.
"This was a house that was loved," Kelly Foster, 44, said while combing through the rubble where her house once stood.
Smoke rose from neighbouring homes and planes dropped water nearby.
Foster's 16-year-old daughter, Ada, said she tried to get inside but: "I just became sick. I just couldn't even...Yeah, it's hard".
In Rick McGeagh's Palisades neighbourhood, only six of 60 homes survived, and all that remained standing at his ranch house was a statue of the Virgin Mary.
"Everything else is ash and rubble," said McGeagh, 61, a commercial real estate broker, who along with his wife, raised three children at their home.
On Friday morning, hundreds of people streamed into a parking lot near the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena for donated clothing, nappies and bottled water.
Many Altadena residents said they were worried government resources would go to wealthier areas and that insurers might short-change those who cannot afford to contest denials of fire claims.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at $US135 billion ($A220 billion) to $US150 billion ($A244 billion), portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners' insurance costs.
President Joe Biden has declared the fires a major disaster and said the US government would reimburse 100 per cent of the recovery for the next six months.
