The most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history Thursday have burned more than 27,000 acres, destroyed 1,000 structures, killed five people and upended the lives of tens of thousands of people forced to flee.

Firefighters are hoping for a break from the fierce winds that have fueled massive blazes in the Los Angeles area, killing 10 people, obliterating whole neighborhoods and setting the nation’s second-l

Firefighters battled early Thursday to control a series of major fires in the Los Angeles area that have killed five people, ravaged communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena and sent thousands of people frantically fleeing their homes.