Aircraft dropped water and fire retardant on steep hills to stem the eastward spread of the Palisades Fire and KTLA television reported that ground crews had managed to save a number of houses, although others were lost.
"LA County had another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak," Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said.
Six simultaneous blazes that have ripped across the second-largest US city since Tuesday had killed at least 16 people as of late Saturday, the Washington Post and other media reported, citing the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office.
The Palisades Fire alone has burned more than 8900 hectares, officials say. (AP PHOTO)
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he expected the death toll to rise. "I've got search and rescue teams out. We've got cadaver dogs out and there's likely to be a lot more," he told NBC.
Newsom said the fires are likely to be the worst natural disaster in US history "in terms of just the costs associated with it".
Active duty military personnel are ready to support the firefighting effort, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said.
The blazes have damaged or destroyed 12,000 structures, fire officials said. By Sunday, more than 100,000 people in Los Angeles County had been ordered to evacuate, while another 87,000 faced evacuation warnings.
Flames have reduced whole neighbourhoods to smouldering ruins, destroying the homes of the rich and famous and ordinary folk alike, and leaving an apocalyptic landscape.Â
⚠�🔥1/12 A.M. Incident Update⚠�🔥— LACoFD (@LACOFD) #EatonFire 🔥14,117 acres27% contained#PalisadesFire 🔥23,707 acres11% contained#HurstFire 🔥799 acres89% contained#KennethFire 🔥1,052 acres100% containedFor emergency & evacuation information:🔗https://t.co/G8xgTGVjkX pic.twitter.com/1jpmOI64sqJanuary 12, 2025
Over the past 24 hours, the Palisades Fire spread over an additional 400 hectares, consuming more homes, officials reported.
Cal Fire official Todd Hopkins said that while 11 per cent of the Palisades Fire was now contained, it had burned more than 8900ha.
Hopkins told a press conference that fire had spread into the Mandeville Canyon and was threatening to jump into Brentwood, an upscale neighbourhood that is home to many celebrities, and the San Fernando Valley. It also inched toward the north-south 405 freeway.
Although the Santa Ana winds that have fanned the flames had calmed over the weekend, the National Weather Service warned that stronger gusts of up to 110 kilometres per hour could return early next week, with the strongest winds to occur on Tuesday.
"Red flag" warnings remain in effect for LA and Ventura counties through to Wednesday, the service said, with conditions expected to moderate by Thursday.
The fires have damaged or destroyed 12,000 structures and have been declared a major disaster. (AP PHOTO)
US President Joe Biden was due to convene key officials for a Sunday afternoon virtual briefing.
His declaration of a major disaster unlocked federal assistance for those affected by the wildfires, clearing the way for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide support.
President-elect Donald Trump criticised local and state officials he believed had handled the situation badly.
"The fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place ... they just can't put out the fires. What's wrong with them?" he said on his Truth Social media feed.
The Cal Fire website reported the Eaton Fire was 27 per cent contained, up from 15 per cent on Saturday, after burning 5713ha.
The two big fires combined have consumed more than 14,500ha, or 145 square kilometres - two-and-a-half times the land area of Manhattan - in one of the worst disasters in Los Angeles history.
Officials have declared a public health emergency due to the thick, toxic smoke hanging over the city and poor air quality as the fires lofted traces of metals, plastics and other synthetic materials.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at $US135 billion ($A220 billion) to $US150 billion ($A244 billion), portending soaring homeowners' insurance costs.
With AP
