The fires’ proximity to densely populated areas means they are burning through more structures than past fires that covered more territory, preliminary figures show.

Two Los Angeles County wildfires which tore through more than 30,000 acres in three days, killing at least five people and destroying more than 2,000 structures, are now among the 20 most destructive fires recorded in the state of California.

The most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history Thursday have burned more than 27,000 acres, destroyed 1,000 structures, killed five people and upended the lives of tens of thousands of people forced to flee.