Strong Santa Ana winds are fueling multiple wildfires across Southern California, forcing thousands of residents to flee from their homes.

Firefighters continue attempts to gain control of almost 40,000 acres of ongoing wildfires, which have killed at least 27 people.

As wildfires caused at least two dozen deaths and billions of dollars in damages, some social media users accused California Gov. Gavin Newsom of slashing money to prevent fires. Many posts including by Fox News stated Newsom cut about $100 million in fire prevention from the state’s budget months before the Los Angeles fires.

Some residents are beginning to assess the damage to their homes as firefighters appear to turn a corner in containing the blazes. But officials say there is much work to be done.

Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted last week and roared across the Los Angeles area.

Updating maps of Southern California show where wildfires, including the Palisades and Eaton fires, are burning across Los Angeles.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Reeling from destructive wildfires, including the deadliest in California history, state lawmakers in 2020 passed new requirements for clearing combustible materials like dead plants and wooden furniture within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of homes in risky areas.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) says that more than 12,300 structures have been destroyed—though individual measures for Palisades and Eaton are less than this. Investigators are still working to measure the number of lost and damaged buildings.

Just over $100 million was cut from California's wildfire and forest resilience fund in the latest budget, though total spending has grown sharply since 2014.

Accounts impersonating CAL FIRE are showing up on social media platforms. These accounts are also soliciting donations from the public.

Here’s a basic glossary to terms used to describe wildland fires, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group: Containment, normally expressed as a percentage, indicates how much of the fire has been enclosed by a control line. A wildfire with 25% containment means control lines have been completed around 25% of the fire’s perimeter.

Misinformation about Oregon fire trucks being denied entry into California to fight wildfires has been debunked by The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.