Wildfires tore across the Los Angeles area with devastating force on Wednesday after setting off a desperate escape from burning homes through flames, ferocious winds and towering clouds of smoke. Flames broke out on Tuesday evening near a nature preserve in the inland foothills northeast of LA while another blaze that started hours earlier ripped

A red flag warning is in effect for much of southern California until Thursday as extremely gusty winds and low humidity have primed the region for wildfires.

In the frantic haste to get to safety from the Palisades Fire, roadways became impassable when scores of people abandoned their vehicles and fled on foot, some toting suitcases.