Firefighters reported some progress fighting the wildfires that have charred hillsides, homes and streets in Los Angeles County, but the strong winds that fanned the flames were expected to pick up again on Friday,

LA residents rushing to flee wildfires this week faced choke points, gridlock and the tough decision of whether to abandon their cars to the fire.

Iconic landmarks such as the Hollywood Sign were engulfed in smoke from the LA wildfires. See before and after photos of famous tourist hotspots.