Firefighters rushed to contain wildfires in the Los Angeles area that have claimed at least 24 lives, as forecasters warned of the return of dangerous winds later this week.
Firefighters worked tirelessly on Sunday to contain wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and claimed 24 lives in the Los Angeles area. Forecasters warned of dangerous conditions with strong winds expected to return this week. At least 16 people were reported missing, with authorities anticipating that number could rise.
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, predicting sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph) and gusts up to 70 mph (113 kph) in the mountains. Tuesday is expected to be the most perilous day, according to meteorologist Rich Thompson.
“Expect very strong gusty Santa Ana winds, a dry atmosphere, and still very dry brush, which creates critical fire conditions,” Thompson said at a community meeting Saturday night.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone announced the arrival of 70 additional water trucks to help combat the flames fueled by renewed gusts. “We are prepared for the upcoming wind event,” Marrone said. Fire retardant dropped by aircraft on Sunday will act as a barrier on hillsides, officials noted.
The fierce Santa Ana winds have been largely responsible for turning last week’s wildfires into destructive infernos, devastating entire neighborhoods after over eight months of little to no rainfall.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna reported that 12 people were missing within the Eaton Fire zone, and four were missing from the Palisades Fire. Investigators are working to reconcile reports, and it is possible some of the missing may be among the deceased. No children are currently among the missing.
The death toll climbed to 24 over the weekend, with eight fatalities linked to the Palisades Fire and 16 to the Eaton Fire, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.
Authorities anticipate the death toll may rise as search teams with cadaver dogs conduct systematic grid searches in the devastated areas. A center has been established for reporting missing persons, and an online database is being developed for evacuated residents to check the status of their homes.
LA City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley urged the public to stay away from the scorched areas. “There are still active fires in the Palisades area, making it extremely dangerous,” Crowley said during a Sunday morning briefing. “There’s no power, no water, broken gas lines, and unstable structures.” Officials also warned that the ash may contain hazardous materials like lead, arsenic, and asbestos.
Approximately 150,000 people in Los Angeles County remain under evacuation orders, with more than 700 residents sheltering in nine evacuation centers. Most evacuation orders in the Palisades area are expected to remain in place until the red flag warnings expire Wednesday evening.
“Rest assured, we will begin discussing repopulation first thing Thursday,” Marrone said.
By Sunday morning, Cal Fire reported that the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, and Hurst fires had burned over 62 square miles (160 square kilometers), an area larger than San Francisco. The Palisades Fire was 11% contained, and the Eaton Fire reached 27% containment. Combined, these two fires accounted for nearly 153 square kilometers of the affected area.
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