An emergency vehicle drives through a neighborhood devastated by the Eaton Fire, in Altadena, Calif. on Thursday.
John Locher/AP
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John Locher/AP
This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts.
As Los Angeles faces a relentless battle against multiple fires, the forecast for more Santa Ana winds has firefighters on high alert. These fires have resulted in significant loss of life and property, with thousands of structures reduced to ashes.
The National Weather Service predicts the gusty winds will persist through Tuesday, possibly continuing into Wednesday across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The combination of these winds and low humidity levels are maintaining severe fire conditions.
The NWS Los Angeles office warned in a post Saturday on X, “#SantaAnaWind combined with dry air and very dry vegetation will maintain high WILDFIRE RISK through Wednesday.”
Red flag warnings are in effect through Wednesday, with wind gusts expected to reach 30 to 50 mph, and up to 75 mph in mountainous and foothill areas. The NWS has highlighted that the hazardous conditions result from low humidity, high temperatures, and strong winds.
A red flag warning indicates conditions that can lead to the rapid spread of fire.
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department reports that over 153,000 people have evacuated, and an additional 166,000 are under evacuation warnings. Due to the recent false alerts affecting millions, Los Angeles County has updated its alert system in collaboration with the state.
What to know
Kenneth Snowden, left, surveys the damage to his fire-ravaged property with his brother Kim, center, and Ronnie in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif. on Friday.
Jae C. Hong/AP
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Jae C. Hong/AP
- Officials are investigating at least 16 deaths caused by the fires, with 11 from the Eaton Fire and five from the Palisades Fire. Search and rescue for missing persons commenced Saturday morning.
- Fires have consumed approximately 40,000 acres across the Eaton, Palisades, Kenneth, and Hurst fires, as reported by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed, including homes, businesses, and houses of worship.
- Cal Fire’s latest data shows the Eaton Fire has spread over 14,000 acres with 27% containment. The Palisades Fire covers over 23,000 acres with 11% containment. The Kenneth Fire has been fully contained after burning more than 1,000 acres, while the Hurst Fire, nearly 800 acres, is 89% contained.
- Deanne Criswell, FEMA Administrator, stated that over 24,000 people have applied for disaster assistance, with numbers expected to increase. She refuted President-elect Donald Trump’s claim on Truth Social that FEMA had depleted its funds, asserting, “That is absolutely false.”
- Curfews are enforced between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. within the Palisades and Eaton fire evacuation zones, due to concerns over potential looting and burglaries.
- Several drinking water advisories have been issued. The Eaton Fire’s impact on pump stations and reservoirs has led to a “do not drink” order for northern Pasadena. Similar advisories apply to sections of the Pacific Palisades and communities north of San Vicente Blvd. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power warns of potential fire-related contaminants in the water system. Those in northern Pasadena are advised not to use tap water until clearance from the water district is received, as the city reported on Saturday.
The California Newsroom is following the extreme weather from across the region. Click through to LAist’s coverage for the latest.
NPR’s Alana Wise, Juliana Kim, Emma Bowman and Ayesha Rascoe contributed to this report.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
