Since the first flames sparked in the Santa Ana winds on January 7, at least 16 have been confirmed dead, 12,000 structures have been destroyed, and over 150,000 residents have been ordered to leave their homes.

The death toll from the Los Angeles County wildfires has grown to 16 as firefighters continued battling the ongoing Palisades and Eaton fires Sunday and braced for more gusty Santa Ana winds expected this week.

Santa Ana winds occur when air flows west from a region of high pressure over the dry Great Basin to lower pressure off the California coast, According to Accuweather. As that cool interior air flows over and through mountain passes, it accelerates, sinks and compresses.