LA residents rushing to flee wildfires this week faced choke points, gridlock and the tough decision of whether to abandon their cars to the fire.

With strong winds, dry conditions and no immediate end in sight, analysts project total economic losses of $50 billion to $150 billion.

The ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, the most destructive in its history, have burned more than 54 square miles (140 square km) of land, destroyed thousands of structures and killed at least five people,