At least 27 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires rage across Southern California.

Though dangerous fire weather conditions have eased, officials warned of other potential risks in impacted neighborhoods.

Santa Ana winds have died down across the Greater Los Angeles area, helping firefighters to bring almost 40,000 acres of ongoing wildfires under control.

Two people were arrested for arson in separate incidents just outside the fire zone on Wednesday, according to the LAPD. In one incident, a citizen extinguished a fire in a tree and detained an arson suspect,