The Eaton Fire raging in the Angeles National Forest, Altadena and Pasadena exploded to 10,600 acres Wednesday, authorities said.Five people have died, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The death toll in the devastating California wildfires has risen to five, as the flames continue to engulf the Los Angeles area and threaten the Hollywood Hills. Officials had previously confirmed just two fatalities from the fires.

The main factors influencing the Palisades fires are high winds and lack of rain. The Santa Ana winds are dry, strong easterlies which occur naturally around this time of year, blowing from the interior of southern California towards the coast.

Wildfires threatened to engulf parts of Hollywood on Wednesday as a growing number of blazes raged across Los Angeles, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes and claiming at least five lives.

Combined, the fires have consumed about 22 square miles — about half the size of the entire city of San Francisco.

At least five people have been killed in rampaging wildfires around Los Angeles, officials said Wednesday, with firefighters overwhelmed by the speed and ferocity of multiple blazes. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said his crews were overwhelmed by the scale and speed of the unfolding disasters.