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 two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area have killed at least 10 people and burned more than 10,000 homes and other structures, officials said as they urged more people to heed evacuation orders after a new blaze ignited and quickly grew.

More than 35,000 acres have burned so far, and at least 10 deaths have been reported, in one of the most costly fire disasters in California history.

Major fires have killed seven people, ravaged communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena, and sent thousands of people frantically fleeing their homes.