Los Angeles wildfires death toll rises to 24 as winds threaten further destruction

The fires have continued to engulf the United States' second-largest city for six days.

The massive wildfires ravaging Los Angeles have claimed 24 lives so far, with warnings of dangerous winds on the horizon that could worsen the situation. The fires have continued to engulf the United States' second-largest city for six days, reducing entire communities to scorched rubble and leaving thousands without homes.

California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that these wildfires could be the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history, having destroyed thousands of homes and forced 100,000 people to evacuate.

While substantial firefighting efforts have managed to slow the spread of the Palisades Fire, which is looming near upscale Brentwood and the densely populated San Fernando Valley, conditions are expected to deteriorate significantly. Meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld from the National Weather Service warned of "extreme fire behavior and life-threatening conditions" in the coming days, with winds reaching up to 70 miles per hour (110 kilometers per hour) prompting the declaration of a "particularly dangerous situation" starting early Tuesday, reported News18. These gusts could fan flames and spread embers from existing burn zones into new areas, firefighters cautioned.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department reported the arrival of resources, including dozens of new water trucks and firefighters from distant locations, as they prepare for the renewed threat. Search teams with cadaver dogs are conducting grid searches, anticipating that the confirmed death toll may rise. Additionally, several arrests have been made related to looting, including one burglar who disguised himself as a firefighter to steal from homes. Nighttime curfews in evacuated zones have been extended, and additional National Guard resources have been requested.

The Palisades Fire has consumed 23,700 acres (9,500 hectares) and is only 11% contained. Aerial firefighters, some scooping water from the Pacific Ocean, are dropping water and retardant while ground crews use hand tools and hoses to hold the fire line as the flames encroach on the upscale Brentwood section and other populated areas of Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire in the foothills east of Los Angeles has scorched another 14,117 acres, nearly the size of Manhattan, with containment increased to 27%, improving from 15% just a day earlier. North of the city, the Hurst Fire is reported to be 89% contained, while three other fires that impacted various parts of the county are now fully contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). However, areas within the containment lines may still be smoldering, and the ferocity of the fire has melted metal from burned-out cars.

The rising demand for temporary housing has created challenges for the city, with reports of illegal price gouging from opportunistic landlords.

Nonetheless, Newsom has promised that the city will rebuild, discussing a "Marshall Plan"—a reference to the U.S. support that helped Europe recover after World War II. “We already have a team looking at reimagining LA 2.0,” he stated.

Firefighters received a brief respite from weather challenges over the weekend as the Santa Ana winds, which had reached hurricane force earlier in the week, finally calmed. These dry winds, originating from the inland deserts, had fanned the flames and pushed embers up to 2 miles (3 kilometers) ahead of the fire front. However, with no significant rain since April, the National Weather Service has forecast Santa Ana winds of 50 to 70 miles per hour (80 to 112 kilometers per hour) continuing until Wednesday, January 15.

Officials have warned the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County that evacuation orders may be issued at any time. As of Sunday, over 100,000 people in Los Angeles County had been ordered to evacuate, down from a previous peak of over 150,000, while another 87,000 were under evacuation warnings.