SANTA MONICA, Calif. – The Los Angeles area is experiencing intense Santa Ana winds again on Tuesday, posing serious risks to efforts aimed at controlling severe wildfires that have decimated neighborhoods and forced tens of thousands to evacuate.

Expected wind speeds range from 45 to 70 mph through midweek, with the strongest gusts likely occurring between Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, as reported by the National Weather Service, which has issued critical red flag warnings for much of southwestern California.

Combining strong winds, low humidity, and ongoing drought conditions, the Los Angeles weather service warned of a “particularly dangerous situation” in northern Los Angeles County and Ventura County, cautioning that “this setup is about as bad as it gets.”

Many firefighters, including additional support from Canada, Mexico, and neighboring U.S. states, are actively battling the fires both from the air and on the ground. Concerns have risen that the strong winds could further spread the Palisades and Eaton fires and ignite new wildfires.

At least 24 fatalities have been reported due to the wildfires, according to the Los Angeles medical examiner’s office. The fires have either destroyed or damaged more than 12,000 homes, businesses, and other buildings, leading to evacuation orders for over 92,000 residents.

Latest Updates:

∎ The Palisades Fire has reduced the Pacific Palisades neighborhood to ruins, burning 23,713 acres and is currently 17% contained.

∎ The Eaton Fire, situated in the San Gabriel Mountains foothills, has scorched 14,117 acres and is 35% contained.

∎ The Hurst Fire near Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley has engulfed 799 acres and is 97% contained.

∎ The Auto Fire, which started Monday evening in Ventura County, has burned 56 acres and is currently 0% contained. However, the county’s fire department reported that the blaze’s spread has been halted.

Firefighting aircraft to resume operations after drone incident

Firefighting planes that were grounded due to a collision with an unauthorized drone last week are set to return to action on Tuesday, officials announced.

The incident occurred last Thursday when the aircraft was in operation over the Palisades Fire near the Pacific Coast, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott.

The aircraft, identified as “Quebec 1,” was struck by a civilian drone not associated with fire operations.

These fire-fighting “super scooper” planes take on water by skimming the surface of lakes and bays, then release the water directly over the wildfires, repeating the process until they need to refuel.

Strong wind speeds recorded across Los Angeles County

Here are some of the highest wind speeds noted throughout southwestern California on Tuesday morning, based on preliminary data from the National Weather Service:

• San Gabriel Mountains – 49 mph
• Fremont Canyon – 46 mph
• Chino Hills – 37 mph
• Santa Monica Mountains – 36 mph
• Cheeseboro Canyon – 30 mph

Firefighters prioritize containment lines as winds intensify

Firefighters tackling the wildfires across southwestern California are focusing on reinforcing and securing containment lines as wind speeds begin to rise across the area.

Cal Fire provided an update on Tuesday morning, stating that they will “conduct tactical patrols and mop-up operations to address smoke and heat sources, thus reducing the risk of fire escaping the containment perimeter.”

Additionally, urban search and rescue missions and damage assessments are actively ongoing in areas affected by the fires. “These operations are unprecedented in scale and size and play a crucial role in minimizing existing hazards, checking for missing persons, and gaining accurate counts of property loss,” Cal Fire explained.

Rain forecast for Southern California: What’s expected?

Light rain may hit the Los Angeles area next week, but the amounts are not anticipated to be significant, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Heather Zehr.

Indeed, Southern California is predicted to experience drier-than-average conditions over the coming two weeks, as per a forecast from the Climate Prediction Center released on Monday.

While substantial rainfall would be beneficial for firefighters confronting the raging blazes, officials have raised concerns that heavy downpours could lead to mudslides in areas recently scorched by the fires.

– Doyle Rice

FBI investigates drone collision affecting firefighting efforts

The FBI announced on Monday that it is investigating the unauthorized drone crash involving a firefighting aircraft over the Palisades Fire last week.

The incident occurred at around 1 p.m. local time on Thursday while the plane operated over the fire. This aircraft, known as “Quebec 1,” was hit by a civilian drone that wasn’t part of the firefighting operations.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the FBI are looking into the incident and have set up a tipline to help identify the drone’s operator.

While no injuries were reported from the collision, the firefighting plane was grounded for five days. Officials indicated that the aircraft is expected to be back in service on Tuesday morning, subject to FAA approval.

– Thao Nguyen and Brian Day

Nine arrests made for looting; stolen Emmy Award recovered

Authorities report that nine individuals have been charged with looting during the wildfire evacuations in the Los Angeles area, with the recovery of an Emmy Award and over $200,000 worth of other stolen items from abandoned homes.

On Monday, officials announced charges against nine suspects connected to burglaries in the Eaton and Palisades fire zones. They are also pursuing charges against individuals accused of posing as firefighters to access evacuation zones improperly.

Increased security measures have been implemented throughout the evacuation areas, with several individuals with prior criminal records facing the risk of lengthy prison sentences if found guilty.

Lawsuits claim Southern California Edison equipment ignited Eaton Fire

At least three lawsuits filed on Monday against Southern California Edison allege that the utility’s electrical equipment was responsible for the ignition of the Eaton Fire, which has consumed over 14,000 acres and destroyed approximately 2,000 structures since the previous week.

The lawsuits, submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court, represent individuals whose properties were devastated by the blaze.

The situation escalated when the utility company failed to deactivate its power lines despite multiple alerts, leading to the Eaton wildfire.

The lawsuits also reference several eyewitness accounts and photographs that allegedly indicate flames at the base of a transmission tower owned by the utility. While fire officials have yet to publicly determine the cause, they have stated that a thorough investigation is underway.

A representative from Southern California Edison commented that he couldn’t speak about the lawsuits as they had not yet been formally presented, but he acknowledged awareness of the claims and affirmed the company’s commitment to safety standards.

– Michael Loria

Brush Fire Breaks Out in Ventura; Firefighters Contain It

Emergency teams responded to a brush fire that ignited Monday evening in Ventura, California, located approximately 68 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

This fire, referred to as the Auto Fire, was first detected in the Santa Clara River area, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds in the vicinity.

By 11:45 p.m. local time, the Ventura County Fire Department reported that they had halted the advance of the Auto Fire. As of early Tuesday, the blaze had consumed 56 acres and was not yet contained.

Is the Brier Fire in San Bernardino Still Active?

The Brier Fire erupted in San Bernardino County on Saturday afternoon but was quickly contained by firefighters as it spread to several acres.

Once a containment line was established by fire crews, the blaze had burned nine acres, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department. The fire has posed no threat to areas east of Los Angeles since Saturday night.

Casualties in the Los Angeles Wildfires

As of now, at least 24 individuals have tragically lost their lives due to the wildfires, as reported by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Additionally, around two dozen people are still unaccounted for, stated Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna on Monday.

Authorities have deployed cadaver dogs to carry out “grid searches” for potential victims, as indicated by Luna. In the Altadena area, where the Eaton Fire originated, remains of some individuals were discovered during the ongoing search, rescue, and recovery missions.

“It is an incredibly somber task… Each day we are engaged in this work, we are encountering the remains of members from our community,” Luna remarked. “It’s not an easy job… I believe this effort will persist, and we will continue to find more remains.”

Pacific Palisades Residents Struggle as Homes Are Lost

Officials have stated that evacuees may have to wait until Thursday to return home, as red flag wind warnings are anticipated to last until Wednesday. Firefighters are actively assessing areas that have been impacted, and reports indicate that at least 5,000 structures were destroyed in the Palisades Fire. A curfew is still in place for many parts of the area.

Beverley Auerbach, along with her husband, who lost their home of 43 years, evacuated last Monday, expecting to be away for only a few days. However, the wind-driven firestorm devastated their Pacific Palisades neighborhood known as the Alphabets, reducing homes to mere foundations and brick chimneys.

Auerbach expressed that they have yet to see the damage for themselves, although a neighbor managed to sneak into the evacuation zone and shared some footage with the local WhatsApp group.

“We all held out hope that the unpredictable winds would spare our home,” Auerbach, a travel marketing consultant, said via text. “We had a clay tile roof and stucco walls with little wooden trim, in contrast to our neighbors’ homes filled with wood and composite shingles.” Auerbach continued, “In such an inferno, given the closeness of the homes, none could really evade the flames, even those with wildfire protections. Yet, we hope against hope until something definitive, like a photo or video, reveals the reality.”

– Trevor Hughes

Contributing: YSL News; Reuters