At least five wildfires are ravaging Southern California, and the three largest have already killed at least five people, burned tens of thousands of acres and prompted the evacuation of an estimated 179,

3News' Matt Wintz explains how the Santa Ana winds made an impact on the wildfires in California.

These fires were the result of a large life-threatening and destructive windstorm throughout the Los Angeles area.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Any fire needs oxygen to grow and the wildfires in the Los Angeles area are no exception. The fires have destroyed more than 10,000 homes and killed at least 10 people, in part because of the powerful Santa Ana winds. One firefighter described it as like fighting a fire in a hurricane.

The devastating wildfires in southern California have been fueled by a relatively dry winter season. One of the biggest factors, however, have been the incredibly strong winds that have been gusting over 80 mph at times for the last few days.

By the time the winds get to the point where the Eaton Fire broke out in Altadena on Jan. 7, it’s not uncommon for them to have less than 5 percent relative humidity, meaning essentially no moisture at all.

Fanned by strong winds, the wildfires have killed at least 24 people and swept through 40,000 acres in the Greater Los Angeles area.

The Palisades and Eaton fires tear through homes and leave at least five dead. Smaller fires also add to state of alert in Los Angeles County.

"Generally speaking, when there are large wildfires ... the coast of California." Then, wind grades blow from high- to low-pressure areas, whipping up "really dry, strong" Santa Ana winds ...

We explain what’s known about how the catastrophic L.A. wildfires started and the factors that scientists do -- and don’t -- think contributed.

Dozens of people are believed to have died in the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have burned down whole swaths of communities

Many Californians thought wildfires couldn’t reach deep into their cities. But the Los Angeles fires showed how older homes became fuel that fed the fires.