Rochele Jones, the couple’s 42-year-old daughter, said her parents and other family members collectively lost more than a dozen homes in Altadena. “It’s gut-wrenching,” she said. “You had your family around and when you had an issue you could turn to your family for help.

A mom and daughter, a cat-loving stage prop designer and a “Forest”-dwelling contractor are among the few who’ve gotten back to see what’s left of their homes. Each fled in a chaotic scramble last week as the winds and embers picked up.

Containment is growing on the Los Angeles County wildfires, but it may be a long time before residents in the burn areas will be allowed back home.