LA Wildfires: Death Toll Reaches 24, Rescuers Scramble Amid Warning For ‘Strong Winds’ | Read

Forecasters anticipate another round of strong winds on Monday and Tuesday, which could exacerbate the fires. Firefighters are working tirelessly on search and rescue operations as the blazes have reduced entire communities to ash and left dozens of people unaccounted for. Governor Gavin Newsom remarked that these wildfires could be the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history, having destroyed thousands of homes and prompted the evacuation of 100,000 individuals.

Efforts to combat the Palisades Fire have made some progress in halting its spread towards the affluent Brentwood area and the densely populated San Fernando Valley. However, conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly, with “extreme fire behaviour and life-threatening conditions” anticipated over the next few days. Winds reaching up to 70 miles per hour (110 kilometres per hour) will create a “particularly dangerous situation” starting early Tuesday, as described by National Weather Service meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld. These gusts could ignite new fires and propel embers from existing burn zones into new areas, according to firefighters.

In the meantime, the Los Angeles County Fire Department reported that they have received additional resources, including dozens of new water trucks and firefighters from distant regions, to prepare for the escalating threat. Teams with cadaver dogs are conducting grid searches with the heartbreaking expectation that the confirmed death toll may rise. Furthermore, authorities have made additional arrests related to looting, including one burglar who disguised himself as a firefighter to steal from homes.

Nighttime curfews in evacuated areas have been extended, and more National Guard resources have been requested. The Palisades Fire has consumed approximately 23,700 acres (9,500 hectares) and is only 11 per cent contained. To put that into perspective, the fire has burned through 23,713 acres (96 square kilometres), or 37 square miles. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire in the foothills east of Los Angeles has scorched another 14,117 acres (57 square kilometres), nearly equivalent to the size of Manhattan, with containment increased to 27 per cent, up from 15 per cent in the previous day.

North of the city, the Hurst Fire is now 89 per cent contained, and three other fires that have impacted different parts of the county are 100 per cent contained, as reported by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). However, areas within the containment lines may still be experiencing flare-ups.

The sudden influx of residents seeking shelter has created a growing challenge for the city, with reports of illegal price gouging from opportunistic landlords. Firefighters received a temporary respite from the weather this weekend as the Santa Ana winds, which had previously reached hurricane-force speeds, finally subsided. These dry winds, originating from the inland deserts, had fanned the flames and blown embers up to 2 miles (3 kilometres) ahead of the fire’s front lines. Nevertheless, the National Weather Service predicts that Santa Ana winds of 50 to 70 miles per hour (80 to 112 kilometres per hour) will resume until Wednesday, January 15, in an area that has seen little to no significant rainfall since April. January 15, in an area that has seen little to no significant rainfall since April.