Firefighters battle the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Wednesday.David McNew / Getty Images file

Photos of Los Angeles show catastrophic scale of devastation as blazes burn uncontrolled

At least 16 people have died and more than 180,000 have been forced to evacuate as the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires burn tens of thousands of acres.

/ Updated

By Max Butterworth and Denise Chow

Wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area continued to burn mostly out of control on Thursday, with at least five blazes engulfing more than 45 square miles.

At least 16 people have died as a result of the fires, which have been fueled by dry conditions and ferocious winds.

More than 1 8 0,000 people have been forced to evacuate as the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires — among others — burn tens of thousands of acres in densely populated areas.

Photos of the disaster, which will likely rank as the most destructive in L.A. history, capture the apocalyptic scale of destruction and heartbreak left in its wake.

Damage to structures in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire — Damage to structures in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire on Friday in Altadena, Calif.Jae C. Hong / AP

Cars are left charred inside a dealership in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire — Cars are left charred inside a dealership in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire on Friday.Jae C. Hong / AP

Wildfire smoke and burned houses from afar. — Wildfire smoke and burned houses on Friday morning in the Pacific Palisades.Apu Gomes / Getty Images

Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles — Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles on Thursday.Ethan Swope / AP

Eaton wildfire in Los Angeles — Flames seen from Topanga Canyon near Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles on Thursday. Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu via Getty Images

A person walks amid the destruction left behind by the Palisades Fire — A person walks amid the destruction left behind by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday.Jae C. Hong / AP

Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area — Firefighters mop up hot spots as the Eaton Fire continues to burn near Altadena, Calif., on Thursday.David McNew / Getty Images

Beach front properties are left destroyed — Beachfront properties are left destroyed by the Palisades Fire on Thursday in Malibu, Calif. Mark J. Terrill / AP

Beach front properties are burned to the ground — As of Thursday, the Palisades Fire has burned nearly 27 square miles and has destroyed 1,000 structures. Jae C. Hong / AP file

Fire crews battle the Eaton Fire — Fire crews battle the Eaton Fire as it impacts a structure on Thursday in Altadena, Calif. Eric Thayer / AP

Paul Perri and Michelle Miner search through their daughter's fire-ravaged property — Paul Perri and Michelle Miner search through their daughter's fire-ravaged property in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire on Thursday in Altadena, Calif. Eric Thayer / AP

The devastation from the Palisades Fire is seen from the air — The devastation from the Palisades Fire on Thursday.Mark J. Terrill / AP

Image: Smoke from the Eaton Fire — Smoke from the Eaton Fire blankets the air of Altadena, Calif., on Thursday. Zoe Meyers / AFP - Getty Images

Image: Burned trees from the Palisades Fire seen from Will Rogers State Park in Los Angeles — Burned trees from the Palisades Fire seen from Will Rogers State Park in Los Angeles on Thursday.Apu Gomes / Getty Images

Wildfires in Los Angeles — The sun rises over the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of west Los Angeles in the aftermath of devastating wildfires on Thursday.Maria Alejandra Cardona / Reuters

A beach front property is burned by the Palisades Fire — A beachfront property is burned by the Palisades Fire on Thursday in Malibu, Calif.Jae C. Hong / AP

Maxar shortwave infrared closer satellite image of burning buildings in Altadena, California. — A short-wave infrared satellite image, captured by Maxar Technologies on Wednesday, shows burning buildings in Altadena, Calif.Maxar Technologies / DigitalGlobe / Getty Images

Eaton Fire in Altadena Calif — A firefighter extinguishes vehicles in Altadena, Calif., during the Eaton Fire on Wednesday.Ethan Swope / AP

Rampaging wildfires around Los Angeles have killed at least two people, officials said January 8 as terrifying blazes leveled whole streets, torching cars and houses in minutes. — Police officers remove an elderly resident from her home during the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Wednesday.Robyn Beck / AFP via Getty Images

Image: Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area firefighting helicopter — A firefighting helicopter drops water as the Sunset Fire burns in the Hollywood Hills with evacuations ordered, in Los Angeles, on Wednesday.Mario Tama / Getty Images

Eaton fire in Altadena Calif — A resident is evacuated from a senior living facility in Altadena on Wednesday as the Eaton Fire approaches.Ethan Swope / AP

Megan Mantia, left, and her boyfriend Thomas, only first game given, return to Mantia's fire-damaged home after the Eaton Fire swept through the area in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2025. — Megan Mantia, left, and her boyfriend Thomas return to the site of Mantia's Altadena home Wednesday after the Eaton Fire swept through the area. Many residents returned to find their homes reduced to smoldering piles of ash, as raging wildfires continue to wreak havoc across Los Angeles. Ethan Swope / AP

Maxar short wave infrared blended satellite imagery view of fires in of the Palisades fire. — Another short-wave infrared blended satellite image shows the Palisades fire burning on the west side of Los Angeles.Maxar Technologies / DigitalGlobe / Getty Images

Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area — Charred palm trees burned during the Palisades Fire in Malibu on Wednesday.Eric Thayer / Getty Images

A motorcyclist stops to look at a burning home during the Eaton fire — A motorcyclist stops to look at a burning home during the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Wednesday.Josh Edelson / AFP via Getty Images

Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area — Iconic beach homes smolder from the Palisades Fire along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on Wednesday.Apu Gomes / Getty Images

Eaton fire in Altadena, CA. — A Kern County fire captain directs his crews fight an intense apartment fire blaze fueled by heavy winds from the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Wednesday.Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Powerful Winds Fuel Multiple Fires Across Los Angeles Area — The ruins of homes burned in the Eaton Fire smolder in Altadena on Wednesday. David McNew / Getty Images

Max Butterworth

Max Butterworth is the Deputy Photo Director for NBC News in London.

Denise Chow is a science and space reporter for NBC News.