President Trump is expected to visit the Los Angeles area Friday following the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires that caused extensive damage and destruction, claiming at least 28 lives and leaving neighborhoods leveled in their wake.

The president has had harsh words for state and local leaders in California amid the deadly blazes. He recently suggested that federal aid could come with strings.

President Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom met on the tarmac of the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday when the president arrived and committed to working together on wildfire receovery.

Palisades Fire initially started 10:30 a.m. Jan. 7 in Los Angeles County. It has burned 23,448 acres after being active for 17 days. A crew of 2,420 firefighters has been working on site and they managed to contain 77% of the fire by Friday morning. The blaze's cause remains under investigation.

Firefighters made progress on the more than 10,000-acre Hughes Fire Friday, which sent thousands fleeing after sparking near the Los Angeles County community of Castaic a day earlier.

Evacuation orders and warnings were issued to more than 31,000 people in the vicinity of two new wildfires north of Los Angeles on Wednesday.