Over the past week, firefighters have been battling to contain the flames that have destroyed thousands of buildings, engulfed large areas of the city, and claimed two dozen lives. However, they issued a warning on Monday that the strong Santa Ana winds that fueled the fires are getting stronger and could spark a devastating sequel.
“We are not in the clear as of yet,” Kristin Crowley, the chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, stated during a press conference. “We cannot let our guard down.”
With wind gusts of up to 70 mph predicted starting early Tuesday and continuing into Wednesday, the National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings from the Ventura County coastline through the expansive Los Angeles metro region.
“Red Flag Warnings are issued for the most severe fire weather conditions. To put it another way, this arrangement is as terrible as it gets,” the NWS stated on X.
When asked if they are more prepared now than they were when the flames started a week ago, Anthony Moroni, the fire chief for Los Angeles County, responded, “We’re absolutely better prepared.”
Santa Ana wind gusts last week occasionally approached hurricane strength before reducing over the weekend, allowing local firemen, supported by reinforcements from out of state and even Mexico, to put out the fires that were fueled by the tinder-dry conditions.
California Governor Gavin Newson stated on X that the Palisades Fire had burned almost 24,000 acres and was at 14% containment as of Monday morning, while the Eaton Fire had scorched over 14,000 acres and was at 33% containment.
Although 92,000 people of Los Angeles are still under evacuation orders, and an additional 89,000 are in evacuation alert zones, the numbers are much fewer than they were the previous week, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
However, when the Santa Ana winds pick back up, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass asked citizens to be on guard and ready to evacuate their homes and neighborhoods at any time.
Please pay attention to the evacuation orders as the winds increase, she said.
Although the Palisades Fire is still only 14% contained, firefighters have made progress and stopped its advance.
According to L.A. County 3rd District Supervisor Lindsay P. Horvath, we have also made great strides in Topanga Oaks, Sylvia Park, Temescal Ridge, and Mulholland. All of these locations have been threatened, but we are holding firm.
Since smokey air still permeates most of the city, Horvath encouraged citizens to use air filters in their homes, close windows and doors, and wear N95 masks when they go outside.
According to Horvath, elderly persons and children, particularly those with significant health issues, are more vulnerable.
Residents of Altadena and the Pacific Palisades left communities that were mostly reduced to ashes in a couple of hours after the biggest fires in Los Angeles history broke out last week, causing a massive and occasionally chaotic exodus.