LOS ANGELES − Firefighting teams were in a race against time on Sunday to tackle several wildfires that erupted in the Los Angeles area, with grim new warnings about the wind conditions potentially worsening the situation, endangering even more Southern California neighborhoods.

Aircraft dropped water and fire retardant over rugged hills as the Palisades Fire − recorded as the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history − expanded by another 1,000 acres to a total of 23,654, resulting in more homes being destroyed. With the fire only 11% contained, officials enforced more mandatory evacuations in areas west of the 405 freeway as the flames threatened parts of Encino and Brentwood.

Cal Fire spokesperson Todd Hopkins mentioned that the Palisades Fire had moved into the Mandeville Canyon area and posed a risk of spreading into the affluent Brentwood region and the San Fernando Valley.

Evacuation zones are now approaching UCLA, located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, with warnings and directives affecting the vicinity near the campus.

Among the six wildfires that ignited since Tuesday, at least 16 lives have been lost, with entire neighborhoods devastated. As of Sunday, four of these fires were still actively burning.

The Santa Ana winds, which have been intensifying the fires over the past week, were predicted to escalate even more on Sunday morning in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and again from late Monday into Tuesday morning. Forecasters caution that sustained winds could reach up to 30 mph, with gusts potentially hitting 70 mph.

“Unfortunately, critical fire-weather conditions are expected to escalate once again across Southern California, lasting at least until early next week, due to intermittent enhancements of offshore winds,” remarked the National Weather Service. “This situation could facilitate the further spread of current fires, as well as the initiation of new ones.”

Updates:

∎ Approximately 12,000 buildings have been impacted or destroyed due to the wildfires, covering around 38,000 acres of land, according to CalFire.

∎ Evacuation mandates in Los Angeles now affect 153,000 residents, with an additional 166,000 residents alerted that they may need to leave, as stated by Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

∎ Governor Gavin Newsom announced a probe into water supply issues that could have hampered firefighting efforts.

Death toll reaches 16

At least 16 individuals have lost their lives due to the Eaton and Palisades fires, as reported by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner on Saturday.

Medical examiner records indicate that at least five fatalities were reported from the Palisades Fire, while the Eaton Fire accounted for 11 deaths.

Of those who perished in these fires, authorities confirmed the identity of only one victim: Victor Shaw, 66, who died while protecting his home in Altadena on Wednesday. Another identified victim was a gentleman in his 80s, whose name has not yet been released pending family notification.

Recovery from the Eaton fire will be a ‘Herculean task’

To the northeast, the Eaton Fire has burned through 14,117 acres and remains 15% contained, affecting parts of Altadena and Pasadena. Fire Chief Anthony Marrone disclosed that over 7,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed.

California official Don Fregulia stated that managing the aftermath of the Eaton Fire represents a “huge, Herculean task” that will require “many weeks of effort.”

Improvements in power supply

On Saturday, progress was reported in restoring electricity to various neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

Southern California Edison CEO Steven Powell mentioned that roughly 48,000 customers currently lack power, a decrease from more than half a million just a few days prior.

However, fire officials have cautioned that safety-related power shutdowns are expected to prevent igniting new fires.

“These measures save lives,” noted Marrone. “They can be inconvenient, but they certainly prevent the start of additional fires.”

‘A 50% chance’ their home is lost

Richard and Cathryn Conn evacuated from the Pacific Palisades earlier this week and discovered that much of their neighborhood was devastated. However, they still are uncertain about the fate of their four-bedroom home where they had lived for over 25 years.

“You can picture each room,’’ Richard Conn, 75, stated, “and then you realize there’s a 50% likelihood it doesn’t exist anymore.”

“If you ever wondered what it’s like to reside in Dresden after the WWII firebombings, you should visit the Palisades,” he commented.

With hazardous weather conditions complicating firefighting efforts, they remain uncertain about what lies ahead as more brush fires continue to emerge across the county.

“I sense that people are panicking,” said Gary Baseman, 64. Read more.

How does climate change affect this?

As California fire officials.

While the reasons behind the wildfires in Los Angeles are still being investigated and politicians are blaming each other, climate change is contributing to the rise in large wildfires across the United States.

The most recent National Climate Assessment noted that “Climate change is resulting in more extensive and intense wildfires in the western U.S.” These fires carry significant risks to public health, the economy, and ecosystems across the country.

But is climate change the sole cause of the issues in California? The answer is not so straightforward. Reporters from the Arizona Republic, part of the YSL News Network, explore this complex subject in detail.