Fierce wildfires fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds are sending residents fleeing from burning homes through flames, ferocious winds and towering clouds of smoke.

Wind-fueled wildfires continued to grow Wednesday as overtaxed fire crews battled three major out-of-control blazes that killed at least five people and ravaged some of the most picturesque neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area.

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Home after home is gone. Old apartment buildings, mansions, cottages, generational homes. Gone. Community centers. Parks. Gas stations. Coffee shops. Banks. Grocery stores. They’re all gone.