More than 1,100 buildings have burned and at least five people are dead in wildfires burning across Los Angeles.
The largest blaze consumed nearly 4,856 hectares in Pacific Palisades, an affluent neighbourhood between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Mandy Moore, Maria Shriver and other celebrities were among the tens of thousands of people forced to evacuate their homes to escape the out-of-control wildfires burning around Los Angeles.
Which celebrities have been affected?
Dozens of stars have taken to social media to check in with fans after evacuating, with some sharing that their homes have likely been lost.
These are some of the celebrities who have been affected by emergency.
Adam Brody and Leighton Meester
Actors Adam Brody and Leighton Meester have reportedly lost their $10 million home in Pacific Palisades.
Video footage by Reuters shows a home reportedly belonging to the couple reduced to a smouldering heap.
The pair were pictured together just days ago, having attended the Golden Globes on Sunday.
Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal and his wife Janice lost their home of 45 years, the couple confirmed in a statement.
"Janice and I lived in our home since 1979," Crystal wrote.
"We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can't be taken away.
"We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this."
Paris Hilton
In an updated posted to her Instagram page, business mogul Paris Hilton confirmed earlier reports that her beachfront home in Malibu had been levelled.
"Sitting with family, watching the news and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience," she wrote.
"This home was where we built so many previous memories.
"It's where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London.
"While the loss is overwhelming, I'm holding onto gratitude that my family and pets are safe."
TMZ reported the property was not her main residence.
Ashton Kutcher
As evacuations were carried out across Los Angeles, Ashton Kutcher was spotted aiding firefighting efforts.
The actor and was photographed by BackGrid using a garden hose to water plants around a Pacific Palisades home.
The state fire department has advised well-watered plants tend to be less flammable.
Ricki Lake
TV host and actor Ricki Lake, best known for her role as Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 film Hairspray, lost her home in the fire.
"It's all gone," she wrote on social media.
"I can't believe I am typing these words. This description 'dream home' doesn't suffice. It was our heaven on earth. This loss is immeasurable."
Jamie Lee Curtis
Actor Jamie Lee Curtis said she has likely lost her home in an update shared to her Instagram.
"My community and possibly my home is on fire," she wrote.
"My family is safe. Many of my friends will lose their homes. Many other communities as well."
Eugene Levy
Schitt's Creek star Eugene Levy's home was levelled in the blaze.
The actor and comedian earlier spoke to the Los Angeles Times of his evacuation, saying the smoke looked "pretty black and intense" over Temescal Canyon.
"I couldn't see any flames but the smoke was very dark," he said.
His son and Schitt's Creek co-star Dan Levy later wrote in a post to his Instagram Stories: "Heartbroken for my family, friends and the people of LA affected by the catastrophic fires."
Mandy Moore
Singer Mandy Moore posted to Instagram, saying she had likely lost her Altadena home.
"I am absolutely numb," she wrote.
"My sweet home. I am devastated and gutted for those who've lost so much."
Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt
The Hills stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt lost their property, Pratt's sister Stephanie confirmed on Instagram.
"How horrible for my sweet little nephews to watch their house disappear like this," she wrote.
Earlier, Spencer Pratt had shared on Snapchat that he was watching his home be engulfed by flames through security cameras.
James Woods
In an interview with CNN, actor James Woods broke down in tears over the loss of his Pacific Palisades home.
"One day you're swimming in the pool and the next day, it's all gone," the Once Upon a Time in America actor said.
Speaking through tears, he recalled his partner Sara's eight-year-old niece had tried to help.
"She came out with her little yeti piggy bank for us to rebuild our house."
Where are the fires burning?
Firefighters have been battling multiple blazes on Wednesday morning, local time, which were propelled by winds with gusts up to 160 kilometres per hour, fuelling five major wildfires: the Palisades fire, the Eaton fire, the Lidia fire, the Sunset fire and the Hurst fire.
[Image: Map]The Pacific Palisades, home to some of the world's wealthiest celebrities, is an affluent neighbourhood situated 32 kilometres west of downtown Los Angeles.
With its median home price reportedly reaching between $US3-4.5 million ($4.84-7.26 million),it is one of the most popular locations in Los Angeles.
The Palisades fire has so far burned more than 6,394 hectares and numerous homes, businesses and landmarks in Pacific Palisades and westward along Pacific Coast Highway, toward Malibu.
Actor James Woods broke down in an interview with CNN earlier as he described the fire's destruction.
Just hours after the Palisades fire, another erupted in Pasadena in Eaton Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains.
The Eaton fire has burned more than 4,046 hectares and many structures in Altadena and Pasadena.
Another fire in Hurst, burned in Sylmar, a community in the San Fernando Valley north-west of Los Angeles.
It has so far burned 283 hectares in the area around Sylmar.
Hollywood events cancelled
The disaster disrupted several Hollywood events just as the annual awards season was kicking off.
This weekend's Critics Choice Awards was delayed by two weeks, and next week's Oscar nominations announcement was postponed by two days, organisers said.
Production of TV shows including Jimmy Kimmel Live and Grey's Anatomy were halted on Wednesday, and several film premieres were called off.
City authorities also blocked public access to the famous Hollywood sign in the hills above Los Angeles.
