THE two biggest wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area have killed at least 10 people and burned more than 10,000 homes and other structures, officials have said.

They urged more people to heed evacuation orders after a new blaze ignited and quickly grew.

The Kenneth fire started late on Thursday afternoon in the San Fernando valley, just two miles from a school serving as a shelter for evacuees from another fire.

The flames moved into neighbouring Ventura county but a large and aggressive response by firefighters stopped the blaze from spreading.

Only hours before the Kenneth fire roared into life, officials expressed encouragement after firefighters aided by calmer winds and help from crews from outside California saw the first signs that the region’s two devastating wildfires were being beaten back.

The Eaton fire near Pasadena, which started on Tuesday night, has burned more than 5,000 structures and vehicles. 

Firefighters were able to establish the first bit of containment on Thursday.

To the west, in Pacific Palisades, the largest of the fires burning in the Los Angeles area has destroyed over 5,300 structures and firefighters had no containment.

All of the major fires that have broken out this week are located in a roughly 25-mile band north of central Los Angeles. 

No cause has been identified for the largest fires.