Firefighters are racing to contain wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area as forecasters warn of the return of strong winds this week.
Sixteen people are reported missing and at least 24 have been confirmed dead, officials said.
More than 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed by the wildfires, and the threat of further destruction remains high, officials said.
Coupled with low humidity, officials expect high winds to sweep through the region in the coming days, with gusts up to 50 miles per hour, according to Los Angeles City Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley. Authorities have instituted a red flag warning until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, with the strongest winds expected to occur on Tuesday.
“These wind events are coming into Los Angeles,” Crowley said at a Sunday press conference. “Every available LAFD firefighter is on hand and will remain in place through this wind event. Additionally, firefighters continue to pour into the Southern California region to bolster our firefighting capabilities.”
The city fire department has deployed 4,720 personnel to prevent the further spread of the Palisades Fire in the Mandeville Canyon area. The Palisades Fire has now consumed more than 23,000 acres and is at 11 percent containment.
The Pacific Palisades is a neighborhood roughly 30 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. The fire affecting that area is currently the region’s largest wildfire and is quickly spreading.
Officials are asking residents to stay out of the affected areas, as dangerous conditions remain, including smoldering fires, no power or water, broken gas lines, and downed electrical lines. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said roughly 105,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders. (More)
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced an executive order on Jan. 12 that focuses on rebuilding as the Los Angeles area burns from multiple wildfires. Newsom said the executive order will target price gouging and halt environmental regulations related to the rebuilding.
- Three doctors are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to prevent a California agency from investigating them over their opposition to state-approved COVID-19 policies.
- Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller is backing more interest rate cuts even if higher tariffs are imposed on imports, a trade policy pushed forward by President-elect Donald Trump.
