Millions of Southern Californians were on edge as winds began picking up during a final round of dangerous fire weather forecast for the region where two massive blazes have killed at least 25 and destroyed thousands of homes.

As if they aren't already facing enough, firefighters in California also could encounter fire tornadoes — a rare but dangerous phenomenon in which wildfires create their own weather.

Firefighters battling two fires that have wreaked destruction across Los Angeles for nine days could get some respite on Thursday from the weather. The hurricane-strength winds that initially fanned the flames and hampered rescue efforts have weakened into much lighter gusts.