Dangerous conditions are expected to persist through Friday before a slight lull in flame-fanning winds potentially gives crews a foothold against infernos that have killed at least 10 people.

Life in Los Angeles: The fires erupted quickly, in a way residents knew was possible but many were unprepared for. Families of notable sports figures were among those evacuating, and the flames forced cancellations of Hollywood events while some celebrities’ homes burned down.

Firefighters are hoping for a break from fierce winds fueling massive blazes in the Los Angeles area, killing 10 people, obliterating whole neighborhoods and setting the nation’s second-largest city on edge.