Firefighters hoped to escape Friday from fierce winds that fueled massive fires in the Los Angeles area, killing 10 people, destroying entire neighborhoods and bringing the nation’s second-largest city to the brink.

The fires have burned more than 10,000 homes and other structures since Tuesday in a densely populated area 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of downtown Los Angeles.

The cause of the biggest fires has not been determined.

Containment of the fire remained far from reach in most cases. At least 180,000 people were ordered to evacuate in the fires, which have engulfed about 145 square kilometers.

National Guard troops have arrived in Los Angeles to be deployed near fire-ravaged areas to protect property.

Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said a curfew in all mandatory evacuation zones will resume at 6 p.m. local time Friday for homes that remain standing.

At least 20 were arrested for robbery.

“Robbery is a despicable crime,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. “For the people who have already been arrested, please know that this is not going to end well.”

The city of Santa Monica, located next to Pacific Palisades, has also imposed a lawless curfew.

Hochman also promised full prosecution of private citizens who fly drones, which is illegal during wildfires. A Quebec firefighting plane had to be grounded Thursday after being hit by a drone, in an incident that did not result in any injuries.

With nerves on edge, Los Angeles County sent out two alerts, Thursday and Friday, with incorrect information regarding evacuation orders. Corrections were sent, and the state apologized Friday, saying it was investigating the issue.

Kevin McGowan, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, said the incorrect messages were not “human-initiated” and that teams were investigating a software problem.

“I’m asking everyone not to disable messaging on their phone,” he said.

The federal government in Ottawa announced on Friday that Canadian military assets will be sent to help firefighters in California.

The senior reportedly died with a garden hose in his hand

Of the 10 deaths so far, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley confirmed that two were in the Palisades fire. County officials said the Eaton Fire killed five people. The dogs and crew search the rubble to see if there are any more victims.

The two dead are Anthony Mitchell, a 67-year-old amputee, and his son Justin, who had cerebral palsy. They waited for emergency services to arrive and did not make it to safety when the flames roared, Mitchell’s daughter Hajime White told The Washington Post.

Victor Shaw has been identified as one of the other victims of the Eaton fire.

Shari Shaw told KTLA she tried to get her 66-year-old brother to leave Tuesday night, but he wanted to stay and fight the fire. family friend, the same mediumsaid Victor Shaw found with the garden hose still in hand.

The Eaton fire near Pasadena on Tuesday night burned more than 5,000 structures, including homes, apartments, commercial buildings, outbuildings and vehicles.

WATCH | One man’s harrowing escape:

#The moment a man escaped a fire in California on a bicycle

Francois Auroux recalls the moment he went to check on his neighbors in California and ended up fleeing the Palisades wildfire on his bicycle, racing through the flames in a desperate attempt to get back to his family.

Robert Lara tearfully searched through the remains of his home in Altadena, near Pasadena, on Thursday, hoping to find a safe containing a set of earrings that once belonged to his great-great-grandmother.

“All our memories, all our sentimental attachments, the things that were handed down from generation to generation are now gone,” he said.

Crews extinguished the fire in the Hollywood Hills with water drops from an airplane, allowing evacuation orders to be lifted Thursday.

At least five churches, a synagogue, seven schools, two libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks and shops were burned.

All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest, will be closed again Friday as thick smoke and ash affect the city’s air.

Incorrect alert sent countywide

Many celebrities lost their homes in the fires, including Jeff Bridges, Mandy Moore and Paris Hilton.

Jamie Lee Curtis has pledged US$1 million to start a “support fund” for those affected by the fires which have affected all economic levels, from the urban rich to the working class.

The fires also led to cancellations and adjustments to sports schedules. Instead of hosting, the Los Angeles Rams will now play their NFL playoff game Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings at the Arizona Cardinals’ home stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

The government has not yet published data on the amount of damage. AccuWeather, a private company that provides weather and impact data, on Thursday raised its estimate of damage and economic loss to $135 billion to $150 billion.

WATCH | Why these wildfires were particularly challenging:

Dry climate, extreme winds fueling fires in Los Angeles

Unprecedented wildfires in Los Angeles County are being fueled by unusually dry weather and hurricane-force winds, and experts warn the problem is not unique to California.

California’s wildfire season is starting earlier and ending later due to rising temperatures and reduced precipitation linked to climate change, according to recent data. Several weather monitoring agencies announced on Friday that 2024 was the hottest year on record for Earth.

Rains that usually end fire season are often delayed, meaning fires can burn through the winter months, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. Dry winds, including the notorious Santa Anas, contributed to warmer-than-average temperatures in Southern California, which has received no more than 2.5 millimeters of rain since early May.

US President Joe Biden pledged on Thursday that the federal government would match 100 percent of the recovery over the next 180 days to pay for debris and hazardous material removal, temporary shelters and salaries for first responders.