LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a weekend containing the explosive growth of fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the Los Angeles area, firefighters had a slight respite with calmer weather, but were wary of a forecast predicting more wind.
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If that were to happen, the embers in houses and already burnt valleys could reignite, sending sparks to unburned areas miles away. New fires could add complications.
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What is the total number of fatalities from the Los Angeles fires?
The number of deaths increased to 24 on Sunday night with a new report from the Los Angeles County coroner. Eight deaths were attributed to the Palisades fire and 16 to the Eaton fire.
At least 16 people were missing, a number that authorities also said was likely to increase.
However, the relative calm of Sunday allowed some people to return to previously evacuated areas.
The National Meteorological Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions until Wednesday, with sustained winds of 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour) and gusts in the mountains of up to 113 km/h (70 mph). The most dangerous day will be Tuesday, warned fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns at a community meeting on Sunday night.
"It will be somewhat intermittent over the next few days," Burns said. "Tomorrow night it will intensify a lot," he added, mentioning that embers carried by the wind could start new fires up to 3.2 km (2 miles) or more downwind from areas that have already burned.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said that 70 additional water trucks arrived to help repel the flames spread by renewed gusts. "We are prepared for the next wind event," Marrone said.
Officials said that the fire retardant dropped by planes will act as a barrier along the slopes.
The fierce Santa Ana winds have been considered a key factor that turned the forest fires that started last week into infernos that destroyed entire neighborhoods in the city, where there has been no significant rainfall in over eight months.
Approximately 150,000 people in Los Angeles County remained under evacuation orders, with over 700 residents taking refuge in nine shelters. Officials said that most of the orders in the Palisades area likely won't be lifted until the red flag warnings expire on Wednesday night.
How many fires are affecting the Los Angeles area?
In total, four fires had consumed over 160 square kilometers (62 square miles), an area larger than San Francisco. The Palisades fire was contained at 11% and the Eaton fire reached 27% containment. Those two fires burned a total of almost 153 square kilometers (59 square miles).
Teams from California and nine other states are part of the deployment against the fire, which includes nearly 1,400 fire trucks, 84 aircraft, and more than 14,000 personnel, including firefighters from Mexico.
Arrests for looting
The looting continued to be a concern and authorities reported more arrests as the devastation grew. Among the detainees were two individuals who were posing as firefighters entering homes, said Los Angeles Police Captain Michael Lorenz.
“California will NOT allow looting,” wrote Governor Gavin Newsom. California National Guard troops had been deployed to protect properties.