The number of people killed by the fire has reached 24, and firefighters have been working feverishly to stop the blazing fires causing havoc in Los Angeles before the winds return later this week.
In the middle of the commotion, 16 people have been reported missing, according to Knewz.com, and authorities say that figure is likely to rise.
As per weather service meteorologist Rich Thompson, the week is expected to bring with it “a very dry atmosphere and still very dry brush, so we still have some very critical fire weather conditions out there.” Santa Ana winds are described as powerful, extremely dry downslope winds that originate inland and affect coastal Southern California and the Baja California region.
According to reports, these Santa Ana winds are “the worst in over a decade,” with recent highs of 99 mph recorded in Altadena and the neighboring areas.
The worst conditions are expected to occur on Tuesday, January 14, according to reports, and the National Weather Service has issued “red flag warnings for severe fire conditions” until Wednesday, January 15.
In the mountains, steady winds of 50 mph and wind gusts up to 70 mph are predicted by the National Weather Service.
Firefighters have been bracing for a challenging week due to the warnings; according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone, they are “prepared for the upcoming wind event.”
While “fire retardant dropped by aircraft Sunday [January 12] will act as a barrier along hillsides,” reports have indicated, Chief Marrone said an additional 70 water trucks have arrived in Los Angeles to help combat the flames driven by the fresh wind gusts.
According to a statement from the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, the number of fatalities from the raging wildfires has reportedly risen to 24 over the weekend, with 16 of the deaths being linked to the Eaton fire and eight to the Palisades fire.
According to officials, the figure is anticipated to rise when teams use cadaver dogs to do grid searches throughout destroyed areas for further dead.
Twelve persons have been reported missing from the Eaton Fire zone, and four more have been reported missing from the Palisades fires, according to a statement released by Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
Investigators are currently attempting to determine whether some of the individuals who were reported missing have actually died, according to Sheriff Luna.
He also stated that as of right now, there are no children among those listed as missing.
More than 150,000 people are currently under evacuation orders, according to Luna, and authorities indicate that the majority of these orders won’t be revoked until Wednesday, January 15, when the “red flag warnings” expire.
About 700 people from Los Angeles have sought safety in the nine fire shelters, Luna continued.
The Pacific Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst sectors were consumed in a raging conflagration throughout the previous week, resulting in enormous destruction in numerous areas and the burning of entire neighborhoods.
According to reports, the fires have destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses.
According to reports, authorities are now creating an online database that will allow evacuees to verify if their homes have been destroyed or damaged.