The California wildfires are still active. Los Angeles, in particular, has been facing an unprecedented crisis for the past few days as the fire has already ravaged entire neighborhoods and left a death toll of at least 24.
Moreover, in the last few hours, the winds in the area have fanned the flames and thousands of people have been evacuated.
Authorities reported that 16 people remain missing, and this number is expected to increase as rescue efforts progress.
California Wildfires: What’s Happening with the Santa Ana Winds
In this context, the National Weather Service issued red alerts until Wednesday due to the dangerous weather conditions, with sustained winds up to 80 kilometers per hour and gusts that could reach up to 113 in mountainous areas.
“Tuesday will be the most dangerous day,” warned meteorologist Rich Thompson.
What Are the Santa Ana Winds?
The Santa Ana winds, responsible for fanning the flames throughout the past week, complicated containment efforts.
These are warm and dry winds that originate in the interior southwest of the United States, mainly in high-pressure areas located in Nevada and Utah.
Firefighters deployed 70 additional tanker trucks and used retardants to create protective barriers in high-risk areas, as reported by Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone.
The Consequences and Numbers So Far
In the most affected areas, such as the Eaton and Palisades fire areas, specialized rescue teams with dogs are conducting systematic searches.
So far, eight deaths have been attributed to the Palisades fire and 16 to the Eaton fire, according to the County Coroner’s Office.
More than 150,000 people remain under evacuation orders, while 700 residents are taking shelter in temporary shelters. Authorities urged the population to avoid the devastated areas due to the lingering risks, such as unstable structures, broken gas lines, and toxic ashes containing hazardous materials like lead and arsenic.
Authorities are now working on creating an online database for residents to check if their homes have been damaged or destroyed.
With all this, the fires are already considered the “most devastating” in the state’s history, and the flames continue to be fully active.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley warned that it is still dangerous to return to the affected areas.
“It is extremely dangerous for the public. There is no power, no water, and the conditions are unstable,” Crowley stated. The evacuation orders in the Palisades area will likely remain in effect until the red flag alerts are lifted on Wednesday night.
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