Heartbreaking moment woman discovers her home has burned down in LA wildfires just two days after moving in

The moment a woman discovered her home had burned down in the Los Angeles wildfires was captured in a heartbreaking clip.

Ongoing devastation in the Californian county has saw the destruction of more than 12,000 structures and the death of at least 24 people.

The largest fire, burning for nearly a week, is the Palisades and has burnt through over 23,000 acres and is just 14 percent contained. There are currently two other fires burning in the area with forecasted winds causing fear they could spread again.

Maura is one of the thousands of people to have lost their house in the Palisades fire as she said her family had moved in just two days before.

Speaking to Katy Tur of MSNBC in a viral TikTok clip, the teary mum said had just got ‘everything perfectly placed’ after working for it to be the most she’s ‘ever been [able] to do [to] a house’ in her life.

“I travelled all over the world, gathering the most beautiful handmade ancient art,” she said, heartbroken.

“I had just, two days before this happened, finished decorating it with every single thing.”

Explaining it was the first time she was seeing the damage, Maura added the family ‘had no idea’ they would be faced by this.

In another clip, the teary-eyed woman said the experience was one that would ‘make her more human’.

“This is something that makes us bigger humans,” she added, saying she will be teaching her two young kids the loss is a ‘potent’ thing rather than a ‘sad’ thing.

As residents across LA lose their homes, many major stars are among those devastated.

Paris Hilton recently returned to the rubbles where her house once stood after watching it burn down ‘live on TV’. And a TV host who lost her home claimed a medium ‘predicted’ the destruction months before.

While still burning, the wildfires are already one of the most destructive in LA’s history in terms of how many buildings have been destroyed.

And while homes are wiped out, tens of thousands are also without power.

It cannot yet be predicted just when the fires will finally go out, with the city now bracing for a possible spread over the next few days.

The strongest Santa Ana winds are expected tomorrow (14 January) with a red flag warning in place, indicating a high level of fire danger.

What we know so far about the LA wildfires

2 January

The first warning

The US' National Weather Service issued a warning of potential strong Santa Ana winds and extreme fire conditions five days before the first wildfire broke out.

In the following days, a Fire Weather Watch warning was issued, as well as state and local officials giving warnings to the Los Angeles area.

7 January

The first fire ignites

The Palisade's Fire ignites, triggering an emergency call to be sent to LA residents advising people near the fire to get set for 'a potential evacuation'.

Later that day, however, the City of Santa Monica issued an Evacuation Order for all areas of the city north of San Vicente: "Evacuation Order: Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW."

Two more wildfires begin

Just hours after the first wildfire ignites, the second - named the Eaton Fire - breaks out in the Altadena area of LA.

And following this, the Hurst Fire ignites in LA's Sylmar area as the National Weather Service report gusts of 99mph. A new evacuation order goes out to those in the affected areas as the blazes rapidly spread, scorching and destroying thousands of acres that contain homes and businesses.

9 January

Prison inmates deployed to help fight fires

Hundreds of incarcerated men and women were deployed to help fight the growing wildfires, with the number of inmates at the frontline standing at 939, the BBC reports.

This practice isn't uncommon in California, as it is one of 14 US states that uses inmates to help fight fires. Inmates aren't forced to take part and do so on their own accord, with it being reported they are being paid between $5.80 and $10.24 per day.

However, inmates with certain convictions - such as arson and sexual offences - aren't eligible to volunteer.

10 January

Man arrested for arson

Three days on from the first fire igniting, the LAPD make an arrest after local residents claim that a man on a bike carrying a large blow torch had been trying to set bins and old Christmas trees on fire.

Authorities believe the Kenneth Fire was started intentionally, with the man believed to be responsible being held in custody.

Billion dollar energy company investigated over possible link to wildfires

Southern California Edison, a subsidiary of energy giant Edison International, admitted that its grid experienced a short circuit issue on 7th January, the evening the first fires broke out.

"On January 10, Southern California Edison (SCE) filed an Electric Safety Incident Report (ESIR) related to the Hurst Fire once SCE learned fire agencies are investigating whether SCE equipment was involved in the ignition, which is a triggering event for reporting," Edison International said in a press release.

"SCE noted that the fire was reported at approximately 10:10pm on 7 January, and preliminary information reflects the Eagle Rock - Sylmar 220 kV circuit experienced a relay at 10:11pm. A downed powerline was discovered at a tower associated with the Eagle Rock - Sylmar 220 kV circuit. SCE does not know whether the damage observed occurred before or after the start of the fire."

A-list celebrities forced out of their homes

A number of celebrities have been forced to evacuate their homes, many of which have been destroyed. This includes the likes of Paris Hilton, Miles Teller, Anna Faris, Billy Crystal and Eugene Levy.

13 January

40,000 acres of land destroyed

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, more than 40,000 acres have been burned in the Eaton, Palisades, Kenneth and Hurst fires.

Homes and businesses are among the more than 12,000 structures that have been destroyedla fir

The death toll rises

Almost a week on from the first fire starting, 24 people have been confirmed by the LA County medical examiner to have died as a result of the blazes.

Officials also confirmed that at least another 23 people remain missing.