By Chad Terhune and Jorge García
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Los Angeles firefighters braced for high winds overnight on Tuesday, gusts that could fuel two monster wildfires that have already devastated entire neighborhoods, killed at least two dozen people and burned an area of the size of Washington, DC.
A red flag warning was in effect Monday night as dry, dangerous Santa Ana winds gained speed. Gusts could reach 120 kph (75 mph) starting at 4 a.m. Tuesday (1200 GMT), said David Roth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.
More than 8,500 firefighters attacked the fires from the air and from the ground, preventing conflagrations on both ends of Los Angeles from spreading overnight.
“This situation is as bad as it gets,” Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told local residents. “We are not safe.”
Officials said California state authorities were pre-positioning firefighting crews in Los Angeles, as well as other Southern California counties that were also under elevated fire danger.
Underscoring the risks, a new small but fast-moving fire broke out in a brush in the Santa Clara River bed in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles. Ground crews and several helicopters were working to contain what had been called the Auto Fire, which was burning near a golf course but was not yet threatening homes.
The two major wildfires broke out last week, driven by hurricane-force winds that brought dry air from inland deserts.
At least 24 people have died in the fires since then, according to Los Angeles County Doctor (TASE:) Examiner.
Wildfires have destroyed or damaged more than 12,000 structures, turning entire neighborhoods into smoldering ashes and piles of rubble, leaving an apocalyptic landscape.
As of Monday, more than 92,000 people in Los Angeles County were under evacuation orders (up from a previous high of more than 150,000), while another 89,000 faced evacuation warnings.
The Palisades Fire, which devastated exclusive communities on the western flank of Los Angeles, burned 23,713 acres (96 square kilometers) and was 14% contained, a figure that represents the percentage of the fire’s perimeter that firefighters have under control.
He Eaton (NYSE:) The fire in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, east of the city, consumed another 14,117 acres (57 square kilometers) and was 33% contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported (Cal Fire).
A third 799-acre (3.2 square kilometer) fire north of the city was 95% contained and three other fires in the county have been completely contained in recent days.
The Eaton Fire damaged the home of 63-year-old Lorraine Bryan in Altadena and destroyed two other homes on her property. He told Reuters he is worried about receiving the extra doses of insulin he needs to control his diabetes.
“I’m worried about insurance and rebuilding and getting back on my feet,” Bryan said Monday, standing in the doorway of his charred home. “I need my medication. I’m trying to see who can help us.”
DEATH AND ARRESTS
Deputies find human remains every day while searching burned parts of Altadena, where the Eaton Fire first started, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
“It’s a very grim task,” Luna said, adding that he expected the confirmed death toll to rise in the coming days.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has said the firestorm could be considered the most devastating natural disaster in US history. It is already the costliest wildfire in terms of insured losses.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Monday that 10 people had been arrested in connection with the fires. Nine people were arrested for robberies in homes in areas affected by the fire. Another person was arrested for arson for allegedly trying to set fire to a tree in the city of Azusa, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of downtown Los Angeles.
U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said during a news conference Monday that there was “a special place in hell” for looters.
Flanked by law enforcement officers, he added: “And if the people behind me have anything to say about it, there will be a special place in jail for you, too.”
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was sued Monday over allegations that it failed to properly manage water supplies critical to fighting the deadly Palisades Fire, a court filing showed. The residents who sued allege that the department should have kept water in a nearby reservoir, which was dry at the time the fire broke out last Tuesday.
AID AND POLITICS
“Our hearts ache for the 24 innocent souls we have lost in the wildfires in Los Angeles,” said US President Joe Biden, who announced additional disaster assistance for California, covering the costs of debris removal and fire protection measures. emergency.
But top Republicans in the U.S. Congress are considering placing conditions on disaster aid, accusing the state’s Democratic leaders of mismanaging water resources and forests.
California Governor Newsom and other top Democrats in the state have come under heavy criticism for their handling of the fires.
President-elect Donald Trump planned to visit the disaster zone after his inauguration next week, a source familiar with the planning said.
As thousands of homeowners face costly rebuilds, large commercial banks, including JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:) and Bank of America, have announced plans to ease mortgage payment terms for those affected. Insurers are analyzing historical losses.