By JAE C. HONG, MARK J. TERRILL, PETER PRENGAMAN and ALYSSA GOODMAN - Associated Press
Major wildfires around Los Angeles raged for a third straight day on Thursday, as firefighters struggled to put out blazes in some areas while in others evacuees returned to their homes, only to find them smoldering in ash.
Ongoing battle
All around Los Angeles, scenes of flames were everywhere, as many areas continued to burn all but unabated. Many people were forced to go about their lives. One person rode a bike past flames, while others walked past houses that were burning.
The rubble
In areas where people who had been evacuated could return, what awaited them was dire. Sunrise illuminated charred timbers of what had been buildings. The wreckage of a home and a charred outdoor fireplace stood next to a swimming pool with water turned brackish from soot. A couple, arms around each other, looked at what was left of their smoldering home. Another person stood, using their arm to cover their face, next to a home that looked like it had been bombed.
Seeing destruction from above
While active fires were far from under control, how much had already been destroyed was coming into view. From above, huge areas looked as if they had been bombed. One neighborhood was only recognizable by the outlines of the streets, as every house had been leveled by flames. Meanwhile, another neighborhood looked like a patchwork of both standing houses and others that were gone, smoke bellowing into the sky.
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