Millions of Southern Californians were on tenterhooks as forecasts of a latest round of dangerous fire weather hit the region on Wednesday, along with a rare warning of an “especially dangerous situation” near where two massive fires have killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
Firefighters got a reprieve Tuesday, when the winds were unexpectedly less intense and they were able to make progress in fighting the two large fires in the Los Angeles area and quickly extinguish new outbreaks.
The Eaton Fire, burning just north of Los Angeles, and the Palisades Fire, which destroyed much of the coastal Pacific Palisades neighborhood, began on Jan. 7 under conditions similar to those expected on Wednesday. Last week’s strong winds pushed the flames at remarkable speed, carrying embers that spark fires sometimes miles away.
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings, which are issued when temperatures are warm, humidity is low and high winds are expected, from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. from the Central Coast, and along 275 miles (443 kilometers) to the border with Mexico. The “particularly dangerous situation” included parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
“Key message: We are not out of the woods yet,” the weather service said in a post Tuesday night. “The winds were not as strong today, but there could be further intensification tonight-tomorrow.”
More than 77,000 homes were without power as utility companies cut power to prevent their lines from sparking new fires.
Alert status
Tired and nervous residents were warned to be ready to flee at any moment. They remained attentive, with their eyes on the sky and also on each other. Police reported approximately 50 arrests for looting, flying drones in fire zones, violating curfew and other crimes.
Among those arrested were three people suspected of arson after being seen starting small fires that were immediately extinguished, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said. One was using a barbecue lighter, another lit brush and a third tried to set fire to a trash can, he said. They were all far from the disaster zones. Authorities have not determined a cause for any of the main fires.
Among the nine people charged with looting was a group that stole an Emmy Award from an evacuated home, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
The biggest concern remained the threat of high winds. Now backed by firefighters from other states, Canada and Mexico, crews were deployed to battle rekindled flames or new fires. The contingent of firefighters was much larger than a week ago, when the first wave of fires began destroying thousands of homes in what could become the nation’s costliest fire disaster.
Kaylin Johnson and her family planned to spend the night at their home, one of the few left standing in Altadena, near Pasadena. They intended to remain vigilant to prevent looting and spray their neighbors’ houses and properties to prevent the fire from reigniting.
“Our lives have been put on hold indefinitely,” Johnson said via text message, adding that they cannot come and go freely due to restrictions on entering the burned areas. “But I’d rather be here and not leave than not be able to come back at all.”
Packed and ready to go
Neighbors said they were ready to make a quick getaway.
Javier Vega, who said he feels like he’s been “sleeping with one eye open,” and his girlfriend have planned how they can quickly pack up their two cats, eight fish and a leopard gecko if they receive orders to evacuate.
“Normally, on any other night, hearing helicopters flying from midnight until 4:00 in the morning, that would drive anyone crazy,” Vega said. But thinking they were helping firefighters keep the flames out of their neighborhood, he explained, “it was actually comforting for me to sleep.”
Preparing for another outbreak
Planes sprayed homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-retardant chemicals, while crews and fire trucks were deployed to particularly vulnerable spots with dry bushes.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials who were criticized for their initial response expressed confidence that the region is ready to confront the new threat. The mayor said she was able to fly over the disaster areas, which described a landscape similar to that left by a “dry hurricane.”
The winds this time were not expected to reach the same ferocious speeds seen last week, but could prevent firefighting aircraft from flying, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.
He urged homeless people to avoid starting fires for warmth and seek shelter.
An increase in wildfires in Los Angeles
After hardly any rain in more than eight months, the brush-filled region has had more than a dozen wildfires this year, mostly in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Firefighters have been dealing with small fires that arise. quickly putting out several in Los Angeles County, including a fire Tuesday night in the Los Angeles National Forest.
The four largest fires burning around the country’s second-most populous city have burned more than 163 square kilometers (63 square miles), about three times the size of Manhattan. Of these, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena was about one-third contained, while the larger fire in Pacific Palisades, on the coast, was much less contained.
Searching for victims
The death toll is expected to rise, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Tuesday. Nearly 30 people were still missing, he said Tuesday. Some people previously reported missing have later turned up.
Just under 90,000 Los Angeles County residents remained under evacuation orders, half as many as last week.
Hollywood on pause
Hollywood’s awards season has been put on hold due to the crisis. The Oscar nominations have been delayed twice, and some organizations postponed their awards ceremonies and announcements without setting new dates.
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