As ash trickled down from a gray sky and the smell of smoke lingered in the air, Angelenos made phone calls to loved ones. The common refrain: We’re OK. We’re safe. We’re at a shelter. Over 240 people were being housed at the Westwood Recreation Center in West Los Angeles Thursday, a Red Cross spokesperson said. Just two days ago, the number was closer to 20. The centers have become refuges for many whose lives have been upended by the unprecedented fires that continue to ravage the Los Angeles area. With continued uncertainty and more expected winds in the forecast, the spaces have provided a reprieve for people who have had nowhere else to turn — including some who have lost everything. At least 10 people have been confirmed dead in the wildfires, and that number is expected to grow, officials said. Fire crews are making progress but bracing for a weekend return of the Santa Ana winds. Read more at the link in bio. 📷️ @be_dizzle for @NBCNews