The extent of the damage from wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area is horrific however it's tallied: Neighborhoods have been erased, landmarks destroyed and lives lost. But officials have prompted some confusion by suggesting their count of “structures” damaged — more than 12,

A spokesperson said the Department of Homeland Security was not conducting any large-scale operations in Southern California amid fires.

Nonprofit groups are working to distribute essential supplies to those impacted by the fires across the Los Angeles area.