Containing wildfires—never mind extinguishing them—in parched and windy conditions can be monstrously difficult. Dry vegetation is rocket fuel for blazes and wind both feeds the flames and spreads the embers. “The winds are like pointing an air blower at a fireplace,” says Gershunov, “except it’s not contained and it’s on a much larger scale.”

Firefighters are working around the clock to contain the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate when the blazes ignited and destroyed more than 12,000 structures. Here are the latest updates.