Wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles, California, have claimed at least 24 lives, according to officials. Firefighters are working urgently to contain the flames ahead of the forecasted return of strong winds that could reignite the inferno.
The fires have been raging for six consecutive days, leaving entire neighborhoods in ashes, destroying homes, and transforming the landscape into a scene of devastation.
According to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, the 24 fatalities include eight victims from the Palisades Fire on the town’s west side, and 16 from the Eaton Fire in the foothills east of Los Angeles.
At least 16 people remain missing, officials reported. Over 100,000 residents have been forced to evacuate, with 12,000 structures either damaged or destroyed. Sheriff Robert Luna stated that 12 individuals are missing in the Eaton Fire zone and four in the Palisades Fire area.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimates the damage and economic loss from the fires to range between $135 billion and $150 billion.
‘Extremely Critical’ Fire Weather Alert
The Storm Prediction Center has updated its fire weather forecast for Monday and Tuesday, designating an “extremely critical” fire weather area (level 3 of 3) for parts of the Ventura Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California.
This is in addition to the previously issued “critical” fire weather alert (level 2 of 3), which affects over 8 million people.
In critical fire weather areas, including Riverside, Glendale, San Bernardino, and Irvine, winds of 20–40 mph are expected, with isolated gusts reaching higher speeds alongside very dry air. In the extremely critical zone, gusts may exceed 50 mph.
For Tuesday, the critical and extremely critical zones remain largely the same as Monday, covering similar regions and populations. Winds are forecasted to intensify, peaking with gusts between 45–70 mph.
The National Weather Service has issued “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red flag warnings for parts of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. While not as intense as last week’s conditions, the gusty winds, combined with dry air and ongoing drought, will worsen challenges for firefighters working tirelessly to improve containment.
Firefighters Confront Active Hotspots
On Sunday, aerial firefighters dropped water and retardant, including some collected from the Pacific Ocean, while ground crews used hand tools and hoses to hold back the Palisades Fire as it threatened Brentwood and other affluent areas of Los Angeles. The fire has burned 23,713 acres (37 square miles) and is 11 percent contained.
Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire has scorched 22 square miles and containment has improved to 27 percent, up from 15 percent the previous day. North of the city, the Hurst Fire is now 89 percent contained, while three other county fires are fully contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). However, some areas within the containment lines remain active.
Firefighters received a reprieve this weekend as the Santa Ana winds, which earlier in the week reached hurricane force, subsided. These dry desert winds had exacerbated the fires, propelling embers up to 2 miles ahead of the fire lines.