'I left my LA home for an Aussie holiday 3 weeks ago. I have no idea if it's still standing.'

As Steph Atkinson wrapped up her Australian holiday to return home to LA, her eyes were glued to the news.

The mum-of-two had been enjoying a three-week trip visiting friends and family in Australia when the devastating LA wildfires broke out.

She arrived in LA on Wednesday night unsure if she still had a home to return to. Her neighbourhood, the Pacific Palisades, has been completely gutted.

Crews are still working desperately to contain the fires blazing across the county. At least seven people have died in the Palisades and Eaton fires and more than 10,000 homes, businesses and other buildings in the area have been destroyed, according to officials.

"I must know 60 people who have lost their houses," Steph told Mamamia from LA.

Watch: Tens of thousands forced to flee as LA wildfires destroy homes. Post continues below.

Steph is trapped in an anxious limbo as she waits to learn whether her family home is still standing.

They never had the chance to choose what to save. All their favourite belongings, photographs and family mementos are right where they left them, out of reach.

The only clothes they have with them in the Californian winter are suitcases of summer holiday outfits.

"We found out yesterday that our home is still standing. But, these fires — the scale is insane and they're spreading so rapidly," Steph said.

"Our entire village — which has pharmacists, our version of Woolworths — has been demolished, and then all the homes surrounding that.

Firefighters continue to battle uncontained blazes in Eaton and the Palisades. Image: Getty.

Her two sons have lost their school, which was due to go back next week. They're just trying to process what's happening.

Luckily, the family dog was able to safely make it out of a boarding kennel in the area.

"We just have to make it through tonight," Steph told Mamamia on Friday. "All the firefighters are saying tonight's the trickiest night. They think if they make it through tonight, in Palisades... we should be okay."

On the ground, people are in shock — Steph herself is in a daze, she said.

"One girlfriend had just rebuilt her house… It's a very unique, beautiful area. It's sad. You've got a lot of history, and your documents and your life… A lot of possessions are just being destroyed.

"It's going to be a very long time to rebuild these communities."

'I've never seen LA so quiet.'

Meanwhile, Sam Lambert, who has been visiting LA, is currently staying in a hotel in Beverly Hills where many displaced families have gone for shelter.

"They've got their animals here, their suitcases, they've pretty much packed up their lives and come to the hotel," she told Mamamia.

"They're sitting around in the foyer. They're really quite upset and crying, or they're relieved they made it out with their families.

"It's quite intense. I feel for them. They don't know what's coming next."

As if dealing with the trauma of losing their homes wasn't bad enough, people were also concerned about opportunistic thieves, Sam said. Families are desperate to return to their properties to ensure looters couldn't target their half-burned houses.

The view of the Palisades fire from Beverly Hills. Image: Supplied/Sam Lambert.

Now, the usually bustling streets of LA are like a ghost town.

"I've never seen LA so quiet," Sam said.

She compared conditions outdoors to Australia's Black Summer in 2019.

"Ash falling from the sky; the air quality is very, very sick; people are walking around with face masks on. They've said to people only essential travel," Sam shared.

Authorities say 'thousands' of structures have been destroyed in the fires. Image: Getty.

'I want to help people through.'

Despite navigating a devastating situation, Steph feels she is one of the lucky ones. Her family had just renewed their home insurance; many others who have lost their homes will not be in the same position.

The fires are on track to become the costliest in US history, with losses already expected to exceed $50 billion ($A80.6 billion), according to JP Morgan analysts.

"It's just surreal," Steph said.

In the miracle her home survives, she wants to help rebuild her community.

"If we're lucky, then I hope to welcome people into our home and help them through this terrible time," she said.

"It's going to be a very stressful period for a lot of people."

Feature image: Hazel Gordy, Getty.