At least five people are dead and many more injured as several fires broke out across Southern California amid historically dry and windy conditions.

The deadly Los Angeles wildfires turned neighborhoods into ash and have forced almost 180,000 people to evacuate.

Pope Francis is praying for victims and rescuers trying to control the wildfires in California that have killed at least 11 people and destroyed thousands of homes, the Vatican said on Saturday.

At least 10 people have died across the Los Angeles area in the wildfires. Officials have said the true death toll is not known as the fires continue to burn.