Firefighters battling two fires that have wreaked destruction across Los Angeles for nine days could get some respite on Thursday from the weather. The hurricane-strength winds that initially fanned the flames and hampered rescue efforts have weakened into much lighter gusts.

Millions of Southern Californians nervously kept watch as winds began picking up Wednesday during a final round of dangerous wildfire weather forecast for the region where two massive blazes have killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes.

Firefighters on Wednesday confronted persistently strong and dry winds fueling two giant wildfires that have terrified Los Angeles for eight days, testing the resolve of a city upended by the worst disaster in its history.

Three new wildfires have started in southern California since Monday as dry conditions and destructive winds continued to create a high fire risk in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. At least 25 people have been killed in the disaster and dozens more are missing.