Cadaver dogs have been helping officials search through thousands of acres of burned land, desperately trying to ascertain the extent of the damage caused by recent wildfires.
The Palisades and Eaton fires are currently believed to have been responsible for all fatalities, with 27 deaths reported to date.
Reuniting families
Cadaver dogs typically locate the bodies of the deceased, but officials say the team in California is also helping reunite families, by locating survivors.
Through tireless systematic grid searches, these canine teams and their handlers have been searching through extensive areas that have been destroyed by the fires.
12,000 structures are believed to have been affected, with hundreds of thousands of people under evacuation notices as the fires spread.
Critical conditions
Firefighters have been pushing to contain the fires, despite challenging weather conditions and high winds.
Residents in critical areas have been warned not to clean up their own fire debris until inspections have been carried out.
Californians have been urged to adhere to curfews and to seek assistance from designated centres where necessary.
