The list of celebrities who lost their homes and neighbourhoods in the worst fire in Los Angeles history reads like a Hollywood who's who. Jamie Lee Curtis, James Woods, Mandy Moore, Mark Hamill and Maria Shriver were among those who publicly described being forced to evacuate as out-of-control fires swept across some of the most lavish real estate in the world.

As firefighters tirelessly work to contain rapidly growing infernos that have torched over 29,000 acres of land in Southern California as of Thursday afternoon, there are several ways North Jersey residents can lend a hand.

Multiple major wildfires are leaving a trail of destruction and death in the Los Angeles area. A handful of wildfires that kicked up Tuesday, powered by high winds and dry conditions, have exploded in size.

Wildfires are nothing new in California but even the experts are saying this is something different. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles is calling it one of the most significant fire outbreaks in history.