More Tankers and Firefighters Deployed to Los Angeles as High Winds Pose Continued Threat
Thousands of homes have been destroyed and at least 24 people have lost their lives in the City of Angels and nearby areas due to multiple wildfires.
Los Angeles is preparing for more high winds with extra firefighters and water tankers arriving in the city.
Water supplies are being replenished as firefighters continue battling the flames after fire hydrants ran dry last week. Additional firefighters have been brought in from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna has stated that the death toll may rise as more than two dozen people are still missing.
Various fires have scorched an area of over 62 square miles in less than a week, equivalent to three times the size of Manhattan.
Efforts are underway to contain the Eaton Fire near Pasadena and the Pacific Palisades blaze, with containment levels currently around one-third and 14 percent, respectively.
The National Weather Service has warned of dangerous Santa Ana winds expected to pick up early on Tuesday and last through midday Wednesday, potentially reaching gusts of 65 mph.
Fire officials advise high-risk area residents to evacuate if they feel endangered, as the extreme fire danger warning continues in Southern California.
Over 8,500 firefighters are working to extinguish the blazes, preventing the fires from spreading further on Monday night. More than a dozen wildfires have ravaged Southern California since the beginning of the year.
Dozens have been arrested for looting in the aftermath of the fires, while authorities are investigating incidents of price gouging and scams related to wildfire relief efforts.
As the wildfires continue to devastate the region, President Joe Biden expressed condolences for the loss of lives and the ongoing crisis in Los Angeles.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
