By the Washington Post
More strong winds are forecast for the Los Angeles area on Wednesday, bringing with them the threat of new or expanded blazes as firefighters battle to contain the conflagration that has already burned some 40,000 acres and killed more than 20 people.
The National Weather Service issued a high-level “particularly dangerous situation” warning through 3 p.m. local time Wednesday and extended a red-flag warning through Thursday for some areas north of the city. “Please stay on guard for a fast-moving fire,” it said.
While cooler temperatures are expected over the weekend, weather officials say any reprieve will probably be brief, with Santa Ana windstorms that can fan flames and carry potentially dangerous embers predicted to potentially return Monday, and no rain forecast for at least the next week.
The two largest wildfires, Palisades and Eaton, are only 19 percent and 45 percent contained, respectively, and the drying winds of the past week have made surrounding areas more susceptible to ignition. Several new fires ignited in dry brush and riverbeds on Tuesday.
Key updates
- How to help the L.A. wildfire victims
- L.A. fire chief defends preparedness amid report questioning pre-deployments
- The Palisades Fire: day by day
The latest on the active Los Angeles wildfires
By María Luisa Paúl and Angie Orellana Hernandez, Washington Post
Here’s what to know about the four active fires in the Los Angeles area as of early Wednesday. Spread and containment figures are from Cal Fire. More than 20 people have been killed, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office.
- Palisades Fire (19 percent contained): The blaze has burned through more than 23,700 acres in and around Pacific Palisades. Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said the fire has destroyed more than 5,300 structures since it began last week. Firefighters are attempting to prevent the fire from reaching L.A.’s Brentwood neighborhood, home to the Getty Center museum, and Interstate 405.
- Eaton Fire (45 percent contained): To the city’s east, near Pasadena, the fire has killed at least 16 people — making it one of the deadliest in California’s history — and has burned through more than 14,100 acres.
- Hurst Fire (97 percent contained): In the north, near San Fernando, the fire has burned 799 acres.
- Auto Fire (50 percent contained): A new brush fire broke out Monday evening at a river bottom in Ventura County and grew to 61 acres. Ventura County firefighters said they were able to halt the fire’s forward progress, and by Tuesday evening it was 47 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
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