Dozens of people are believed to have died in the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have burned down whole swaths of communities

Staggered after one of the most destructive natural disasters in Southern California history, thousands of heartbroken families, burned-out business owners and beleaguered leaders across Los Angeles County are beginning to ponder another monumental task: rebuilding what was lost and charting a path forward.

A law enforcement task force has been set up to uncover what caused the fires. The local agencies involved — the Los Angeles fire and police departments and the county Sheriff’s Department, as well as Cal Fire — are considered to be among the most skilled in the country. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is leading the probe.

Strong Santa Ana winds are fueling multiple wildfires across Southern California, forcing thousands of residents to flee from their homes.

While most fire tornadoes are small and short-lived, they can still intensify the fire’s destruction.In rare cases, fire tornadoes can become extremely powerful. One of the most intense examples occurred during the 2018 Carr Fire in California,