A day after firefighters got a reprieve from weaker-than-expected winds, gusts reached before dawn Wednesday up to 56 km/h on the coast and in valleys, and 88 km/h in the mountains, said Todd Hall of the National Weather Service. These gusts are expected to increase during the morning. Mr Hall hoped conditions would improve on Friday and Saturday.
Tuesday’s more manageable winds allowed firefighters to make progress in containing the deadliest and most destructive fires that have been burning for just over a week. Nearly half of the Eaton fire, just north of Los Angeles, has been contained, and a fifth of the fire that destroyed much of the coastal neighborhood of Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles is now contained.
These two fires broke out on January 7 under conditions similar to those predicted for Wednesday. Strong winds pushed the flames to remarkable speed last week and carried embers for miles.
The Weather Service on Tuesday issued “red flag” warnings – hot temperatures, low humidity and strong winds – from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday from the “Central Coast” south to the border with Mexico. A “particularly dangerous situation” was in effect in an area that includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
With almost no rain in more than eight months, the often brush-covered Los Angeles area has seen more than a dozen wildfires this year, mostly in the metro area. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)
A state of alert
Tired and anxious residents were warned to be ready to flee at a moment’s notice. Residents remained vigilant, keeping an eye on the sky and on other residents: police announced around fifty arrests, for looting, drones in fire zones, curfew violations and other crimes.
Among them, three people were arrested on suspicion of arson after being seen starting small fires that were immediately put out, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said. All these people were far from the disaster areas. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of any of the major fires raging in California.
-The biggest worry remained the threat of strong winds. Now, with support from firefighters from other states, Canada and Mexico, teams have been deployed to attack outbreaks or new fires. Firefighters were outnumbered a week ago, when the first wave of blazes began destroying thousands of homes in what could become the nation’s costliest disaster.
The two largest fires have not spread much over the past two days. Air tankers doused homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-retardant chemicals, while crews and fire trucks deployed to particularly vulnerable spots with dry brush in case new fires broke out.
These forest fires are increasing
With almost no rain in more than eight months, the often brush-covered Los Angeles area has seen more than a dozen wildfires this year, mostly in the metro area.
Firefighters responded to small fires that broke out, quickly dousing several in Los Angeles County, including a fire Tuesday evening in the Angeles National Forest.
The four largest fires around the nation’s second-largest city have burned more than 100 square miles, about three times the size of Manhattan.
The death toll will likely rise, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. Nearly 30 people are still missing, he said Tuesday. Some people reported missing earlier have been found.
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