A devastating combination of fires, fierce Santa Ana winds and drought have turned parts of the greater Los Angeles area into a disaster zone. Multiple major wildfires are triggering mass evacuations and consuming homes and buildings. As the flames blaze across the ground, eyes up in space are following the fires' movements across Los Angeles County.Read more:Los Angeles Fires: Donations, Relief Efforts and How to Help Fire VictimsThe numbers are almost unfathomable. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, is tracking the blazes. As of Thursday morning, the Palisades Fire had consumed more than 17,000 acres and was at zero percent containment. The next-largest is the Eaton Fire, at 10,600 acres and also at zero percent containment. Other, smaller fires are also active, including the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills near landmarks like the Hollywood sign and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The cause of the wildfires is under investigation. Enlarge Image ESA's Sentinel-2 satellite spotted the smoke from the Palisades Fire shortly after it started on Jan. 7. NASA Earth Observatory/Wanmei Liang/ESA/Copernicus SentinelNASA's Earth Observatory, a public outreach effort, shared satellite imageryshowing the smoke and spread from above, with a focus on the Palisades Fire, which broke out on Jan. 7. An initial image from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 Earth-observing satellite showed the early smoke plume from the fire on the morning of Jan. 7. Even at that stage, it was generating a tremendous amount of smoke as it grew rapidly. Enlarge Image The smoke plume from the Palisades Fire had grown considerably by later in the day on Jan. 7 as seen in this NASA Aqua satellite image. NASA Earth Observatory/Wanmei Liang/MODIS/NASA EOSDIS LANCE/GIBS/WorldviewNASA's Aqua satellite captured a view later on Jan. 7. The image emphasizes the fire's spread and the extension of the smoke plume out into the Pacific Ocean."Although windy conditions are typical this time of year, a lack of rain contributed to the dangerous fire weather," NASA said.Other satellites are also watching. The NASA-built GOES-West satellite is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA makes current imagery available to the public. The satellite's view of thePacific Southwestcovers Los Angeles. The satellite captured the broad plumes of smoke from the fires on Jan. 9. Enlarge Image A closer look at NOAA's GOES-West satellite view of the Los Angeles wildfires on Jan. 9. NOAA/NESDIS/STARThe fires are hitting close to home for NASA. The agency's Jet Propulsion Lab home base for many major NASA space exploration missions is in the mandatory evacuation zone for the Eaton Fire. JPL plans to remain closed until Monday. "Currently, JPL facilities, labs and hardware are secured and protected," the organization said in a Jan. 8 update.Firefighters have a long battle ahead. Continuing strong winds and dry conditions make the blazes difficult to contain. Los Angeles County residents can turn to Cal Fire and the Watch Duty app for updates.Here are ways to help those impacted by the fires. Satellites will continue to monitor the situation from above.