LOS ANGELES (AP) — Following a weekend of battling fires that ravaged thousands of homes and claimed at least 24 lives in the Los Angeles area, firefighters saw a brief respite with calmer weather, but remained cautious of forecasts predicting more wind. Should the winds pick up again, the risk of rekindling fires in already scorched areas loomed, potentially spreading embers to untouched regions miles away and complicating the situation further.
The death toll escalated on Sunday with an update from the Los Angeles County medical examiner, with at least 16 people reported missing, a number expected to rise. Despite the relative calm on Sunday, allowing some evacuees to return home, the National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with high winds of up to 50 mph sustained and gusts of 70 mph in the mountains. Fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns warned of Tuesday being the most perilous day, with the possibility of spotting — new fires ignited by blowing embers — occurring miles downwind from the affected areas.
With stress and uncertainty gripping the community, a gathering at a Pasadena City College gym saw a mostly respectful audience, in contrast to criticism directed at local leaders. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone announced additional resources, including water trucks and fire retardant drops, to combat the flames driven by strong winds.
The ferocious Santa Ana winds were identified as a major factor in the unprecedented wildfires that devastated neighborhoods lacking significant rainfall for over eight months. The search for missing individuals continued, with the death toll rising to 24 over the weekend, including eight from the Palisades Fire and 16 from the Eaton Fire.
Efforts were underway to establish an online database for evacuated residents to assess the damage to their properties, while authorities cautioned against entering scorched areas due to safety hazards. With ash containing harmful substances like lead and asbestos, officials emphasized the dangers posed by the aftermath of the fires.
Approximately 150,000 people in Los Angeles County remained under evacuation orders, with shelters accommodating over 700 residents seeking refuge.
Officials indicated that most evacuation orders in the Palisades region would likely remain in place until the red flag warnings expire on Wednesday evening. “Please be assured that on Thursday morning, we will start discussing the process of allowing people back into their homes,” Marrone stated.
Overall, four fires had burned over 62 square miles, surpassing the size of San Francisco. The Palisades Fire was 11% contained, while the Eaton Fire reached 27% containment. These two fires alone covered nearly 153 square kilometers.
A collaborative effort involving crews from California and nine other states, totaling nearly 1,400 fire engines, 84 aircraft, and over 14,000 personnel, including firefighters from Mexico, is underway.
Following intense efforts, firefighters successfully defended properties in Mandeville Canyon, where celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger reside. Helicopters dropped water as the fire advanced downhill through the hillsides.
There were concerns about looting, with authorities making arrests as the fires continued to spread. Looting incidents included individuals impersonating firefighters to gain access to homes.
Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized that looting would not be tolerated with the presence of California National Guard troops.
The fires that began near downtown LA had destroyed over 12,000 structures, with the cause of the largest fires still undetermined. Initial estimates suggest these fires could be the costliest in the nation’s history, possibly exceeding $150 billion.
In addition to firefighters from various states and Mexico, hundreds of inmates from California’s prison system were aiding in the firefighting efforts, a practice that has sparked controversy due to the low wages paid to the inmates for their hazardous work.
Governor Newsom issued an executive order to expedite the rebuilding process by suspending certain environmental regulations and ensuring that property tax assessments do not increase.
Over 24,000 individuals had registered for federal assistance following a major disaster declaration by President Joe Biden. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass anticipated a visit from the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Mayor Bass faced scrutiny over her leadership during this crisis as allegations of failures and investigations emerged. Governor Newsom ordered an inquiry into the shutdown of a 117 million-gallon reservoir.
“Drants had run dry,” reported from Concord, New Hampshire by Ramer. Julie Walker in New York, Sophia Tareen in Chicago, Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, and Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming contributed to this Associated Press article.
