Firefighters in Los Angeles are racing against time to combat wildfires that have already claimed 24 lives and destroyed thousands of homes. The blazes, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, continue to wreak havoc, leaving 16 people unaccounted for, with officials fearing the number of missing could rise.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings until Wednesday, predicting sustained winds of up to 80 kilometres per hour and gusts reaching 113 kilometres per hour in mountainous areas.
"You're going to have really strong gusty Santa Ana winds, a very dry atmosphere and still very dry brush, so we still have some very critical fire weather conditions out there," meteorologist Rich Thompson said at a community meeting on Saturday evening.
Winds fan the flames
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C Marrone announced the arrival of 70 additional water trucks to support crews battling the flames. The wildfires, ignited last week, have turned into infernos due to the strong winds, destroying entire neighbourhoods.
Within the Eaton Fire zone, 12 people remain missing, while four are unaccounted for in the Palisades Fire area, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. Authorities are reconciling reports to determine if the missing are among the deceased.
The death toll reached 24 over the weekend, with eight fatalities attributed to the Palisades Fire and 16 to the Eaton Fire, the Los Angeles County coroner's office confirmed on Sunday evening. Cadaver dogs are conducting grid searches in affected areas to locate additional victims.
Evacuations and Destruction
Approximately 150,000 residents remain under evacuation orders in Los Angeles County, with over 700 individuals seeking refuge in nine shelters. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley urged residents to avoid the scorched areas, warning of lingering dangers.
"There are still active fires that are burning within the Palisades area, making it extremely, extremely dangerous for the public," she said during a briefing.
Ash in the affected zones contains hazardous materials, including lead, arsenic, and asbestos, officials cautioned.
Cal Fire reported that the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, and Hurst fires have collectively consumed over 160 square kilometres—an area larger than San Francisco. Containment efforts have yielded limited progress, with the Palisades Fire only 11 per cent contained and the Eaton Fire 27 per cent contained.
The firefighting response includes over 14,000 personnel, 1,354 fire engines, and 84 aircraft. Assistance has also arrived from nine states and Mexico. Nearly 950 incarcerated individuals from California's prison system are aiding efforts, constructing fire lines and removing flammable materials.
Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to expedite rebuilding efforts and prevent property tax increases on destroyed properties. Damage estimates range between $135 billion and $150 billion, according to AccuWeather.
Mayor Karen Bass revealed that discussions are underway with the incoming presidential administration, with expectations that former President Donald Trump will visit the affected region.
The White House reported that over 24,000 individuals have registered for federal aid following President Joe Biden's disaster declaration last week.
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