The Pacific Palisades, one of the wealthiest communities in the U.S., is experiencing the worst fire in its history.

Los Angeles has been battling fires fueled by violent winds of up to 160km/h. Nearly 180,000 people have had to flee their homes. Since the start of the fire, which broke out near Pacific Palisades before moving into the San Fernando Valley,

The Palisades fire (the largest of the four major fires currently burning in Los Angeles) has forced 30,000 people out of their homes, destroyed more than 1,000 structures, and burned 15,832 acres so far,

Nearly a dozen people are believed to be dead -- with the Los Angeles County sheriff saying he expects that number to rise -- as devastating fires spread across Southern California amid dry and windy conditions,

A brush fire broke out Tuesday near the Pacific Palisades, a coastal neighborhood on the west side of Los Angeles, and quickly exploded.