At least two dozen people have been reported dead in fires raging across Los Angeles. Five lived near one another in a ravaged Altadena neighborhood.

Flames were licking his fence, he was choking on smoke, and bullets were whizzing by his leg. Despite it all, Tristin Perez never left his Altadena home during the deadly Eaton fire.

Multiple major wildfires are leaving a trail of destruction and death in the Los Angeles area.A handful of wildfires that kicked up on Jan. 7, powered by high winds and dry conditions, have exploded in size.

California is no stranger to wildfires. The region has always had fires and always will. But the magnitude of the destruction has raised questions about how they became so damaging, especially during the winter.