Fierce wildfires are raging in the Los Angeles area, fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, sending residents fleeing from burning homes through flames, ferocious winds and towering clouds of smoke. Thousands of firefighters were battling at least three separate blazes on Wednesday,

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Home after home is gone. Old apartment buildings, mansions, cottages, generational homes. Gone. Community centers. Parks. Gas stations. Coffee shops. Banks. Grocery stores. They’re all gone.