What you should know

• A state of emergency remains in effect for the city and county of Los Angeles on Wednesday as at least four fires continue to burn out of control in the area, fueled by a destructive storm.
• A wildfire broke out in the Hollywood Hills west of Runyon Canyon on Wednesday evening.
• Five people died in the Eaton fire near Altadena. The fire left a devastating trail of burned houses and spread quickly across the foothill districts.
• The Palisades Fire, which broke out in the Pacific Palisades on Tuesday and was sparked by a backyard fire, has destroyed an untold number of homes and forced thousands to flee their homes. The fire continues to burn and new evacuation warnings have been issued for Malibu.
• Schools across the region were canceled for Wednesday, and authorities are urging parents to check with their campus or district for any current status changes.
• Evacuation efforts were repeatedly hampered by difficult traffic situations as crowds of people tried to flee in limited space on the highway and narrow streets. A list of road closures can be found here.
• Tens of thousands of households across the region remain without power.