Winds calmed Friday around Los Angeles, providing a fleeting window of opportunity for firefighters battling five major blazes, as official recriminations began over responsibility for the disaster.- 'Need answers' - Authorities have said it was too early to know the cause of the blazes,

A pause in the fierce winds that super-charged the ring of wildfires that devastated Los Angeles this week helped crews make some progress in controlling the infernos on Friday, but strong gusts returning next week could resuscitate the flames.

Officials warned that winds would strengthen overnight, creating conditions for the Palisades blaze to grow and for others to start.

Los Angeles saw a frightening natural weather event — and its star-studded community has been heavily impacted. An extreme wind storm, caused by Santa Ana gusts, sparked fast-burning brush fires at around 10 a.

Firefighters finally started gaining control over two major wildfires on the eastern and western flanks of Los Angeles on Friday as fierce winds that supercharged the fires for days finally eased.

High winds that weather officials have called "life-threatening and destructive" are hitting Southern California Tuesday, sparking a major brush fire in Pacific Palisades and prompting thousands of power outages.

Winds were expected to drop Friday around Los Angeles, bolstering a huge firefighting effort at the five major blazes wreaking havoc around America's second biggest city.

At least five people have been killed and thousands of structures have burned in wildfires raging in the Los Angeles area

A drone captured the charred remnants of Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood west of downtown Los Angeles severely impacted by wildfire.