Over a week after destructive wildfires erupted in the Los Angeles area, fire crews have made progress with containment and stopped the growth of the Eaton and Palisades fires.

Although the cause of each blaze has yet to be determined, they all burned in or near foothill communities amid gusty winds and dry air and vegetation.

As of Jan. 10, the official causes of the fires were unknown. However, one factor that is known to have quickly hastened the flames' spread is the powerful Santa Ana winds. These fierce winds — common from September through May — had maximum gust speeds of nearly 100 miles per hour, allowing embers and flames to quickly reach new fuel sources.

Fires across the Los Angeles area have killed at least 25 people. The Palisades and Eaton fires continue to burn in Southern California.

The wildfires have devastated Southern California, burning more than 40,000 acres, and destroying 12,000+ structures. The blaze has also had severe ripple effects on the economy, including one of Southern California's most prominent industries: entertainment.