LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Dangerously strong winds are expected to return to Los Angeles on Monday, putting at risk efforts to extinguish two massive wildfires that have leveled entire neighborhoods, destroyed thousands of buildings and claimed the lives of at least two dozen of people.
The forecast is that Santa Ana’s dry winds, with up to 70 mph (112 km/h), would blow again this Monday and persist until Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a red flag warning of “especially dangerous situation” — the agency’s most serious fire alert.
Fire crews were able to prevent the fires from spreading overnight and are preparing for increased winds in the coming days, authorities said at a news conference Monday morning.
“We are not free,” said Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley. “We must not let our guard down because right now we have extreme fire behavior.”
Officials said the state is pre-positioning firefighting crews in vulnerable areas, including around the Palisades and Eaton fires, the two largest fires burning on either side of Los Angeles. More than 8,500 firefighters were assigned to these two fires.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said firefighters are “absolutely better prepared” for extreme winds this week, after fires grew rapidly last week following similar dire warnings from forecasters.
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There are more personnel on the ground and more firefighting aircraft in the air now, he said, although he acknowledged nothing is guaranteed.
“We’re never sure we’ll be able to catch the next fire and keep it small,” he said. “They said 70 mph winds. It will be very difficult to contain this fire.”
At least 24 people died in the fires that started last Tuesday, and more than 150,000 residents were forced to abandon their homes. More than two dozen people were reported missing, authorities said.
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Deputies are finding human remains every day as they search the burned parts of Altadena where the Eaton Fire started, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
“It’s a very difficult task,” Luna said, adding that he expects the number of confirmed deaths to rise in the coming days.
The flames reduced entire neighborhoods to smoking ruins, leaving an apocalyptic landscape. California Governor Gavin Newsom said the firestorm could rank as the most devastating natural disaster in United States history. Private forecasting company AccuWeather estimated damage and economic losses at between $135 billion and $150 billion.
