Evacuees sought refuge and medical care at a Red Cross-run evacuation shelter at the Westwood Recreation Center in Los Angeles. In the hilly areas east and north of downtown off Sunset Boulevard, many homes were almost completely destroyed by the Palisades fire.

The biggest threat to Los Angeles remains the strong winds, which reduced in speed early Thursday morning, allowing firefighters to better take control of the fires. Stronger winds, however, are expected to return later in the day.

Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton are among the stars who said Wednesday they had lost homes in the fires. California firefighters are battling wind-whipped fires tearing across the area, destroying homes,