Los Angeles braces for fierce winds that threaten the progress made against two massive wildfires that have already destroyed thousands of homes and claimed at least 24 lives. Despite reinforcements and a more prepared response, fire officials warn of danger as the wind gusts could reach up to 105 km/h, making firefighting efforts challenging. The National Weather Service issued an extreme fire danger warning for Southern California, urging residents to evacuate if necessary and exercise extreme caution.
Additional water tankers and scores of firefighters have arrived at the Los Angeles area ahead of fierce winds that were forecast to return and threaten the progress made so far on two massive infernos that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people. On Monday, planes doused homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-retardant chemicals, while crews and fire engines were being placed near particularly vulnerable spots with dry brush.
Dozens of water trucks rolled in to replenish supplies after hydrants ran dry last week when the two largest fires erupted. Tabitha Trosen and her boyfriend said she feels like they are 'teetering' on the edge with the constant fear that their neighborhood could be the next under threat. 'Our cats are ready to go, we have their carriers by the door prepped with their little stuffed animals and things like that,' Trosen said, adding that she's packed things as she thinks about what she could lose. 'It's like, how do I take care of myself, and what are the things that will ground me as a human and remind me of my background and my life and my family.' Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials -- who have faced criticism over their initial response to fires that began last week -- expressed confidence Monday that the region was ready to face the new threat with additional firefighters brought in from around the U.S., as well as Canada and Mexico. 'We're absolutely better prepared,' L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said when asked what will be different from a week ago, when hurricane-force winds propelled multiple fires across the parched, brush-filled region that hasn't seen rain in more than eight months. There have been more than a dozen wildfires in Southern California since Jan. 1, mostly in the greater Los Angeles area. The latest started late Monday in a dry riverbed in Oxnard, about 89 kilometers northwest of Los Angeles, and was burning in an agricultural area. The winds are predicted to pick up starting early Tuesday and continue through midday Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. They are not expected to reach hurricane-force like last week, but they could ground firefighting aircraft, Marrone said, warning if winds reach 112 km/h, 'it's going to be very difficult to contain that fire.' Fire officials advised residents in high-risk areas to just leave home -- and not wait for formal evacuation orders -- if they sense danger. That's exactly what Tim Kang of La Crescenta did last Wednesday. Feeling sick from the smoky air and fearful of nearby fires spreading, Kang and his brothers packed up and have stayed away from their neighborhood. 'Everything just felt like, 'Oh man, the world's ending,'' said Kang, who's staying with his girlfriend in Pasadena. In less than a week, four fires around the nation's second-biggest city have scorched more than 160 square kilometers, roughly three times the size of Manhattan. The National Weather Service warned the weather will be 'particularly dangerous' on Tuesday, when wind gusts could reach 105 km/h. A large part of Southern California around Los Angeles is under this extreme fire danger warning through Wednesday, including densely populated Thousand Oaks, Northridge and Simi Valley. The Eaton Fire near Pasadena is roughly one-third contained, while the largest blaze in Pacific Palisades on the coast is far less contained. The death toll is likely to rise, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Monday. At least two dozen were missing, he said. Luna said he understands that people are eager to return to their homes and neighborhoods to survey the damage, but he asked for their patience. 'We have people literally looking for the remains of your neighbors,' he said. At a Monday evening community meeting about the Palisades Fire, a Los Angeles Police Department official said many people reported as missing had been found. It wasn't clear if there was overlap in the numbers shared by the sheriff. The slower winds over the weekend allowed some people to return to previously evacuated areas. Many had no idea if their homes or neighborhoods were still standing. Jim Orlandini, who lost his hardware store in Altadena, a hard-hit neighborhood next to Pasadena, said his home of 40 years survived. 'The whole time I was thinking, I don't know what I'm going to find when I get back here and after 40 years, you know, you got a lot of stuff you forget about that would disappear if the house burned down. So we're thankful that it didn't.' L.A. city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley urged people to stay away from burned neighborhoods filled with broken gas lines and unstable buildings. Firefighters over the weekend fought flames in Mandeville Canyon -- home to Arnold Schwarzenegger and other celebrities -- after the Palisades Fire spread, prompting new evacuation orders. Crews continued battling there Monday before potentially strong winds could push the flames toward the famous J
WILDFIRE CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES EVACUATIONS WIND FIRE-FIGHTING NATURAL DISASTER
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Los Angeles wildfire death toll hits 24 as firefighters brace for more fierce windsNational Weather Service warns of severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with winds feared to spread embers
Read more »
Los Angeles wildfire death toll surges to 24 as firefighters brace for more fierce windsAfter a weekend spent blocking the explosive growth of fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the Los Angeles area, firefighters got a slight break with calmer weather but cast a wary eye on a forecast for yet more wind.
Read more »
Fierce Winds Fuel Fast-Moving Wildfire in Los Angeles HillsA wildfire fueled by strong winds is ravaging the Los Angeles hills, forcing evacuations and prompting closures of major roads. The blaze is one of several fires burning across Southern California.
Read more »
Fierce Winds Fuel Devastating Wildfires in Los AngelesMultiple major wildfires fueled by strong winds have ravaged communities in the Los Angeles area, killing five people and destroying thousands of homes. The fires, including the Palisades and Eaton fires, have consumed nearly 42 square miles and prompted evacuations for over 130,000 people. Despite the challenges posed by the wind and dry conditions, firefighters made progress on some of the blazes, particularly the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills. Celebrities like Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton have also lost homes in the fires.
Read more »
Firefighters hope for a break from fierce winds fueling devastating blazes in Los Angeles areaLOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters hoped for a break Friday from fierce winds fueling massive blazes in the Los Angeles area that have killed 10 people, obliterated whole neighborhoods and set the nation's second-largest city on edge.
Read more »
Firefighters hope for a break from fierce winds fueling devastating blazes in Los Angeles areaLOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters hoped for a break Friday from fierce winds fueling massive blazes in the Los Angeles area that have killed 10 people, obliterated whole neighborhoods and set the nation's second-largest city on edge.
Read more »