Death toll rises to 24 as firefighters continue to battle Los Angeles wildfires

Wildfires in Los Angeles have killed 24 people, with 16 missing, as firefighters prepare for dangerous Santa Ana winds

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Firefighters in the Los Angeles area continued their efforts on Sunday to contain wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and resulted in at least 24 deaths.

The fires, which have been exacerbated by strong winds, are also responsible for at least 16 missing persons, a number that authorities expect to rise.

The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for dangerous fire conditions through Wednesday, citing sustained winds of 80 kph and gusts in the mountains reaching 113 kph.

 

 

 

 

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Meteorologist Rich Thompson emphasized that Tuesday would be the most hazardous day, with strong gusty Santa Ana winds, a dry atmosphere, and dry brush contributing to critical fire weather conditions.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone stated that 70 additional water trucks had arrived to assist firefighters. Aircraft also dropped fire retardant along hillsides to help prevent further spread of the flames.

The Santa Ana winds, which have been a major factor in turning wildfires into raging infernos, have worsened the situation in areas that have seen little to no rainfall in over eight months.

As of Sunday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported 12 people missing in the Eaton Fire zone and four in the Palisades Fire zone.

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The authorities are still investigating additional reports of missing persons and are working to confirm if any of them are among the fatalities. There are no children among those reported missing.

The death toll had risen to 24 by the weekend, with eight deaths attributed to the Palisades Fire and 16 to the Eaton Fire, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.