The National Weather Service said Tuesday's wind gusts could exceed 100 kilometers per hour, putting large areas of Southern California under extreme fire danger warnings.
California firefighters, backed by new reinforcements of personnel and equipment, prepared for the possibility of new or worsening wildfires in Southern California on Tuesday amid warnings of high winds and dry conditions.
The National Weather Service said Tuesday's wind gusts could exceed 100 kilometers per hour, putting large areas of Southern California under extreme fire danger warnings.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Monday that firefighters were “absolutely better prepared” than when a series of wildfires quickly emerged last week, but that gusty winds could force authorities to grounding aircraft critical to the firefighting effort.
Such restrictions were in place for part of last week when four major fires burned. Together, those fires have burned more than 160 square kilometers.
Firefighters have completely brought one fire under control, while another north of Los Angeles is 97% contained.
Danger remains for the two largest fires, including the Palisades Fire on the west side of Los Angeles, which has burned 96 square kilometers and was 14% contained as of Monday night, according to the Department of Forestry and Protection California Fire Rescue (Cal Fire).
The other major fire was the Eaton Fire in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains on the east side of the city. That fire was 33% contained and has burned 57 square kilometers, Cal Fire said.
The fires have killed at least 24 people, while authorities continue to search for dozens of people who have been reported missing.
Approximately 100,000 people in the region remain under evacuation orders.
US President Joe Biden pledged additional federal support on Monday, saying during a White House briefing: “We will continue to do everything we can to help them get through this.”
“It was a heartbreaking weekend for a lot of people in Los Angeles,” Biden said. “Ash was raining like snow, houses were burned to the ground.
Thousands of those houses disappeared. And we learned that we lost more of our fellow Americans. So let's say it again to the people of Los Angeles: we are with you.”
The president also praised the work of the emergency services.
“Los Angeles is the City of Angels, and you are the angels now,” Biden said. “You are the angels who literally save people's lives, and we owe you something.”
Biden said the federal government was providing help to pay for firefighters' overtime, debris removal and temporary shelters. He said the region will need tens of billions of dollars to recover and called on Congress to “step up” and provide funding.
Some Republican leaders in Congress have suggested that federal aid only be provided with conditions, as they criticized California leaders for what they allege is poor management of water and forest resources.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has said in recent days that the state has increased its fire force and forest management efforts since he took office in 2019.
On Monday, a lawsuit filed against Southern California Edison claims that the utility's equipment caused the deadly Eaton Fire that started on Jan. 7.
Edison acknowledged that fire agencies are investigating whether his crew may have started a smaller fire in the area that also occurred on Jan. 7.
Authorities have not yet determined an official cause of the fire.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was also sued on Monday. The lawsuit claims the utility failed to properly manage water supplies, which are critical to fighting the deadly Palisades Fire, which has killed at least eight people and destroyed thousands of structures, according to the court filing.
(The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters provided information)