Written by Nathan Frandino and Lisa Richwine

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Firefighters raced to contain two wildfires in Los Angeles on Sunday for the sixth day in a row, taking advantage of a brief respite in dangerous conditions before high winds were expected to fan the flames again.

At least 14 people have died in what California Gov. Gavin Newsom said could be the most devastating natural disaster in US history, destroying thousands of homes and forcing 100,000 people to evacuate. Another 16 people are believed to be missing.

The flames reduced entire neighborhoods to smoldering ruins, leveling the homes of the rich, famous and commoners alike, and leaving a horrific scene. Officials said 12,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed.

“Los Angeles County witnessed another night of unimaginable horror and heartbreak,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said.

Aerial firefighters, some scooping water from the Pacific Ocean, dropped water and retardant while ground crews with hand tools and hoses controlled the Palisades fire line as it encroached on the upscale Brentwood section and other populated areas of Los Angeles.

This fire on the city’s west side has consumed 23,713 acres (9,596 hectares) or 37 square miles (96 km2) and is 11% contained, a number that represents the percentage of the fire’s perimeter that firefighters controlled.

the Eaton (NYSE:) The fire in the foothills east of Los Angeles has scorched another 14,117 acres (5,713 hectares) or 22 square miles (57 square km) — itself roughly the size of Manhattan — and firefighters increased containment to 27%, up from 15%. 1 day ago.

North of the city, the Hearst Fire is 89% contained, and three other fires sweeping through other parts of the county are now 100% contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported, though the areas are within containment. Maybe the lines are still burning.

Firefighters got a temporary break from the weather this weekend as Santa Ana winds, which reached hurricane force earlier in the week, eased. Dry winds from the interior deserts fanned the flames and blew embers up to 2 miles (3 km) ahead of the front lines.

But in an area that hasn’t received any significant rain since April, the National Weather Service forecast Santa Ana winds of 50 to 70 mph (80 to 112 kph) will resume Sunday night and continue through Wednesday.

Officials warned all of Los Angeles County’s roughly 10 million residents that anyone could be asked to evacuate. By Sunday, more than 100,000 people in Los Angeles County had been ordered to evacuate — down from the previous record of more than 150,000 — while another 87,000 faced evacuation warnings.

“These winds combined with low relative humidity and low fuel moisture will keep fire danger throughout Los Angeles County very high,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a news conference, adding that evacuated areas may not reopen. Until the red flag was raised. The conditions will be lifted on Thursday.

The death toll may rise

Newsom said he expects the death toll to rise as search teams and cadaver dogs enter disaster areas, and he told NBC News that the fires are likely to be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history “just in terms of the costs associated with it.”

Private weather forecasting company AccuWeather estimated damage and economic losses at between $135 billion and $150 billion.

To help speed up the massive rebuilding effort ahead, Newsom signed an executive order on Sunday that temporarily suspends environmental regulations for destroyed homes and businesses.

Active-duty military personnel are ready to support firefighting efforts, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deane Criswell said in a series of television interviews on Sunday, adding that the agency urged residents to begin submitting requests for disaster relief.

Firefighters from seven states, Canada and Mexico have already gathered in the Los Angeles area to assist fire departments from across the state.

Severe anxiety

In Altadena on the edge of the Eaton Fire, Tristen Perez said he never left his home, defying police orders to evacuate as the fire spread down the hill.

Instead, Perez insisted on trying to save his property and the homes of his neighbors.

“The fire was burning in your front yard and the palm trees were lit up. It looked like something out of a movie,” Perez told Reuters in an interview at his home. “I did everything I could to stop the line and save my house, and help save theirs.”

His one-story yellow duplex survived. So did two other nearby homes. On the other side of the street, entire homes burned to the ground.

Dozens of Brentwood residents who had to evacuate due to the Palisades Fire began lining up around 5 a.m. Sunday, hoping to return home, while volunteers distributed coffee and cookies. Officials have banned them from entering, saying the area is still too dangerous.

“A lot of these areas still look like they were bombed,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. “There are electrical wires, gas lines and other hazards.”

Avanti Prasanna, 29, a software engineer who lives in Palisades Heights, said she was unable to visit her family’s home but heard from neighbors that the house was still standing.

“It’s still heartbreaking, even if your home is there, to know that one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Los Angeles is just gone,” Prasanna said.

Ileana Zapatero, 65, a resident of Pacific Palisades for 30 years, said her house is still standing but “we’re just hoping and praying.”