LA fires update: Fierce winds set to return as death toll reaches 24

LOS ANGELES - Firefighters moved into the Los Angeles area Monday as more powerful winds were expected to start new wildfires that could affect the recent progress made in containing blazes that have killed at least 24 people.

Crews and equipment arrived from across the U.S., and from Canada and Mexico — including water trucks and planes that drop firefighting chemicals, according to the Associated Press. 

The National Weather Service is predicting that fire conditions will last through Wednesday, with wind gusts in the mountains reaching 65 mph. 

An Arcadia fire truck is pictured on Jan. 8, 2025. (Credit: Cal Fire/Flickr)

Strong Santa Ana winds have been largely blamed for turning the wildfires sparked last week into fires that have destroyed neighborhoods around Los Angeles where there has been no significant rainfall in more than eight months.  

In less than a week, four fires around Los Angeles have ignited over 62 square miles. Most of the destruction has been from the Eaton Fire near Pasadena and the Palisades Fire,

At least 16 people were missing, a number of authorities said was also likely to rise.

Here’s what to know:

Status of LA fires

• Palisades Fire: ‎23,713 acres burned, 14% contained
• Eaton Fire: ‎14,117 acres burned, 33% contained
• Hurst Fire: 799 acres burned, ‎95% contained

Fire risk high this week 

The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50 mph and gusts in the mountains reaching 70 mph. 

The most dangerous day will be Tuesday, warned fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns at a community meeting on Sunday night.

"It will kind of ebb and flow over the next couple days," Burns said. "(Monday) night, it will really ramp up."

Spotting — or new fires caused by blowing embers — could happen as much as 2 miles or more downwind of areas that have already burned, Burns said.

LA fires: By the numbers

The fires that began Tuesday just north of downtown LA had burned more than 12,000 structures. No cause for the largest fires was determined.

Early estimates suggest they could be the nation's costliest ever, as much as $150 billion, according to an AccuWeather estimate.

About 150,000 people in Los Angeles County remained under evacuation orders as of Sunday, with more than 700 residents taking refuge in nine shelters, officials said. 

Crews from California and nine other states are part of the ongoing response that includes nearly 1,400 fire engines, 84 aircraft and more than 14,000 personnel, including newly arrived firefighters from Mexico.