“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son Rory Sykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heart broken. British-born Australian living in America, a wonderful son,” she wrote.

“I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off by Las Virgenes Municipal Water. Even the 50 brave fire fighters had no water all day!” she wrote.

Firefighters start to gain control

Firefighters on Friday (local time) reported progress against the Palisades Fire on the western edge of the city and the Eaton Fire in the foothills east of the sprawling metropolis.

The Eaton fire is estimated to have destroyed 4,000 to 5,000 buildings, while the Palisades fire destroyed or damaged approximately 5,000 structures.

A home burns in the Pacific Palisades. The Palisades fire is estimated to have destroyed or damaged approximately 5,000 structures. Source: AAP / Michael Nigro/Sipa USA

Three much smaller blazes, the Kenneth Fire (4 sq km), the Hurst Fire (3 sq km) and the Lidia Fire (1.6 sq km) have been partly contained — by 35 per cent, 37 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively, as of Saturday morning (AEDT).

Conditions in the Los Angeles area will improve through the weekend, with sustained winds slowing to about 30km/h.

The death toll from the fire has climbed to 10 but officials said the number may rise when investigators can access destroyed homes. Source: AAP / Michael Nigro/Sipa USA

However, forecasters predicted another red flag warning would be issued for Monday.

LA officials also said that there had been a “high number of significant injuries” to residents who had not evacuated the Palisades fire.

‘Everything is ash’

“Everything else is ash and rubble,” said McGeagh, 61, a commercial real estate broker, who, along with his wife, raised three children at their home.

More than 150,000 people remain under evacuation orders as fires continue to burn around Los Angeles. Source: AAP / Michael Nigro/Sipa USA

On Friday morning, hundreds of people streamed into a parking lot near the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena for donated clothing, nappies and bottled water.

Many Altadena residents said they were worried government resources would go to wealthier areas and that insurers might short-change those who cannot afford to contest denials of fire claims.

The sun rises in the Pacific Palisades on Thursday. Source: AAP, AP / Damian Dovarganes

Beyond those who lost their homes, tens of thousands remained without power, and millions of people were exposed to poorer air quality, as the fires lofted traces of metals, plastics and other synthetic materials.

California insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara called on insurers on Friday to suspend pending non-renewals and cancellations that homeowners received before the fires began and to extend the grace period for payments.

“This is not going to be over, even when all the fires are out, it’s just going to be beginning … so we’re going to be around a long while to help,” Biden told an Oval Office briefing.

Australians caught up in fires

Actor Rebel Wilson, who has a home in a fire-affected part of the city, shared a message on her Instagram story, “Cannot believe this … thank you Ornela for saving our cat!”

Stause later posted to Instagram stories that their neighbourhood was safe “for now” but said it was “Impossible to sleep while your city burns”.

With additional reporting by Agence France-Presse.