Emergency evacuation alerts have gone off the rails, pinging people seemingly at random. Experts say that such errors can sow mistrust in the alert system, potentially endangering residents down the line.

"It’s hard to see, because there’s so much pain and suffering,” said one local, who dropped off toys at the Westwood Recreation Center in West Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County residents received an evacuation warning in error Thursday as another fire sparked that afternoon.

An alert to evacuate from the Los Angeles County Fire department Thursday afternoon appeared to have been sent in error.

Fierce winds that have supercharged wildfires sweeping parts of Los Angeles finally eased on Friday night, bringing some relief to weary firefighters, but the largest blaze was reported to have shifted direction,

Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes in California as six fires continue to devastate the Los Angeles area.