A pause in the strong wind Fueling deadly wildfires The blazes in and around Los Angeles are giving firefighters an opportunity to make progress in fighting the blazes that have devastated areas of the nation’s second-largest city.

As of Friday, five separate fires had burned more than 14,000 hectares (35,000 acres), according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire).

Officials say the two largest fires, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, have become the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history.

“We are doing everything we can to control the situation and we have been successful,” Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference.

“We know winds are likely to pick up early next week, and preparing Los Angeles — to do whatever it takes to save lives — is our top priority.”

The Palisades Fire in the Pacific Coast community of Palisades was reported to be 8% contained Friday morning, while the Eaton Fire in the Altadena community was 3% contained. Cal Fire.

“The gusts aren’t that strong, so that should help firefighters,” National Weather Service meteorologist Allison Santorelli said of the forecast, adding, Fire conditions remain severe due to low humidity and dry vegetation.

But any easing in wind patterns is expected to give firefighters on the ground critical support, with aircraft able to spray water and retardant onto burning hills. “There’s some good news, if I may,” Santorelli said.

Thousands of Los Angeles residents were forced to flee their homes after rapidly spreading fires broke out earlier this week.

At least 10 people died and Over 10,000 structures According to official statistics, the entire city was destroyed.

“The scope, the scale and the erratic movement of these fires are truly unprecedented,” President Joe Biden told reporters Friday before briefing federal and state officials on the wildfires.

California Governor Gavin Newsom deployed the National Guard to support street law enforcement and soldiers amid concerns about looting and crime. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna also imposed a nighttime curfew in some areas.

“The curfew will be strictly enforced and is intended to enhance public safety, protect property and prevent any break-ins or robberies in areas where residents have been evacuated,” Luna said.

The Sheriff’s Department said about 20 people have been arrested in connection with the robberies so far.

Al Jazeera’s Rob Reynolds reported Friday morning from Pacific Palisades that air quality in the area remains extremely poor as the fires continue to burn.

“Ashes and dust fell like light snow around us,” he said.

But the good news, Reynolds said, is that fire crews have been reinforced with more manpower and supplies to help put out the flames as wind conditions improve.

“The troops are already here. There are more firefighting personnel on scene now,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents have been grappling with scenes of disaster as the scale of the damage begins to come into focus.

In Pacific Palisades, brick chimneys loomed above charred waste and burned-out vehicles.

“I can’t describe it,” said Kelly Foster, a 44-year-old psychiatrist, as she combed through the ash-filled rubble where her home once stood, as smoke billowed from surrounding homes and planes dropped nearby water. “I have nothing to say.”

Hester Callul, who arrived at the shelter after escaping her home in Altadena, also said her home burned. “I lost everything,” she told AFP.