Firefighters held the line against two massive wildfires that have ravaged parts of Los Angeles for the past week, even as desert winds and a parched landscape presented extremely hazardous conditions.

Southern California is braced for "extremely critical fire conditions" caused by a new period of Santa Ana winds today through tomorrow across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties as the battle to contain raging blazes goes on.

One week after the fire emergency began in Southern California, the region remained on edge as it braced for more high Santa Ana winds. At least 24 people have been killed, while 37 were unaccounted for.