Wildfires leave behind a desert of ash and destruction

Wildfires leave behind a desert of ash and destruction

 

Fierce wildfires feast on Southern California

John Bain and Brandon Baker take cover from embers as they try to help stop a fire from burning a home in Ventura, California, on Tuesday, December 5. Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

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The unchecked wildfires rage — unleashing twinkling walls of embers, forcing the evacuation of thousands and consuming scores of homes in Southern California.

Ferocious and fast, the wind-whipped flames have feasted on vast swaths of dry terrain. They have engulfed vegetation, lines of cars and entire neighborhoods. Some residents have been forced to flee over the burning ground.

An ominous orange glow breaks through plumes of smoke rising like tornadoes from a series of fires that have scorched more than 83,000 acres.

For three days, tens of thousands of Californians have been forced from their homes – some decorated for the holidays -- as exhausted firefighters heave heavy hoses toward infernos where church spire-like flames tower over trees.

The fires, fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds, could burn for days. They leave behind a desert of ash and destruction as testament to one of the state’s worst fire seasons.

A helicopter drops water where homes were threatened by the Creek Fire in Sylmar, California. Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Firefighters work on a blaze engulfing homes in Ventura on Tuesday, December 5. Ryan Cullom/Ventura County Fire Department/AP

Judy Hofmann-Sanders can only watch as her Los Angeles home is consumed by the Creek Fire on Tuesday, December 5. Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times

Edward Aguilar runs through flames to save his cats near his mobile home in Casita Springs, California. Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

A wildfire burns near a home decorated with Christmas lights in Santa Paula, California. Zhao Hanrong/Xinhua/ZUMA Wire

Flames consume vehicles as the Thomas Fire rages in Ventura on Tuesday, December 5. Noah Berger/AP

Carolyn Potter tries to save her house in Casita Springs by throwing dirt on her fence. Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

A house is engulfed in flames as the Creek Fire burns in Los Angeles on Tuesday, December 5. Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto/ZUMA Press

A man tries to get a hand on a horse that got loose in Los Angeles. Chris Carlson/AP

A news photographer takes pictures in Los Angeles on Tuesday, December 5. Chris Carlson/AP

An aerial view of Ventura County shows homes destroyed in the Thomas Fire. Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Ventura County firefighter Aaron Cohen catches his breath after fighting to save homes on Tuesday, December 5. "We chased the fire from Santa Paula all the way into Ventura through the night," he said. Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Smoke rises behind a leveled apartment complex in Ventura. Noah Berger/AP

Produced by Sarah Tilotta and Ray Sanchez