On Wednesday at 4:01 p.m. a red flag warning was issued by the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA in effect until Thursday at 6 p.m. The warning is for Ventura County Beaches, Ventura County Inland Coast and Northern Ventura County Mountains.

The catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles County have caused toxic air in the region. NBC News' Steve Patterson reports on the threat and how people can protect themselves.

Raging wildfires in Los Angeles killed at least two people, destroyed hundreds of buildings and stretched firefighting resources and water supplies to the limit on Wednesday, as more than 70,000 people were ordered to evacuate.

Ferocious wildfires worsened in the Los Angeles area overnight, tearing through homes and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. Officials warned of devastating losses as the main blaze raced through the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood.

The fire has burned around 3,000 acres in the coastal Pacific Palisades. (Credit: Reuters)