Lost to the flames Family homes in a thriving enclave reduced to ashes

In the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, street after street tells the story of the firestorm that swept through the area in the past two days.

- Gabrielle Canon

Buckled trees and telephone poles are strewn across roads, their piled branches and hanging wires a testimony to the winds that whipped up the flames. Intersections are flooded, even after the loss of water pressure hampered efforts during the fight against the fire.

Mansions lining the yellow beaches are hollowed out, homes in the canyons reduced to dust.

As the most active flank of the blaze had moved beyond the community by Thursday morning, firefighters worked through the day to douse spot fires in the smoldering ruins that were once homes, businesses, schools and churches.

Officials said they estimated, based on aerial surveys conducted the day before, that at least 5,300 structures had been destroyed.

The buzz from planes and helicopters involved in firefighting pierced the silence that hung over the vacated neighborhoods, otherwise only punctuated by spurting water and the chatter of small birds in the skeletons of trees.

Christmas decorations could be seen still clinging to steps that now lead only to smoking debris, and green lawns were visible through a sea of black and grey.