When the air is warm and dry, transpiration and evaporation also suck water out of the plants and soil. That leaves dry vegetation that can provide fuel for flying embers to spread wildfires, as the Los Angeles area saw in early January.

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.

See maps of where mandatory evacuation orders as well as warnings are in place for wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area.

Investigators are considering an array of possible ignition sources for the huge fires that have killed at least 10 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in the Los Angeles area

Multiple major wildfires are leaving a trail of destruction and death in the Los Angeles area. A handful of wildfires that kicked up Tuesday, powered by high winds and dry conditions, have exploded in size.

The Los Angles Police Department said "a male was heard stating a suspect was 'attempting to light a fire'" near the Kenneth Fire.