Nearly a dozen people are believed to be dead and many more injured as several fires broke out across Southern California amid historically dry and windy conditions.

Pope Francis is praying for victims and rescuers trying to control the wildfires in California that have killed at least 11 people and destroyed thousands of homes, the Vatican said on Saturday.

At least 10 people have died across the Los Angeles area in the wildfires. Officials have said the true death toll is not known as the fires continue to burn.