The scale of the effort will be vast — the area scorched by the major fires is equal to three times the size of Manhattan.

Alex Rosewood and nearly her entire family in Altadena, northeast of Los Angeles, lost their homes — her father, whom she and her husband were living with, and her aunt, uncle and cousin next door.

It could be a week or more before homeowners in the Los Angeles area are allowed to check on their fire-damaged properties.

Heartbroken families, burned-out business owners and beleaguered Los Angeles leaders are beginning to ponder a monumental ...