The death toll from the Los Angeles fires has shot up to 24, amid warnings that hellish weather conditions will fuel the raging infernos for at least three more days.
Meteorologists warned residents in fire-ravaged evacuation zones that wind speeds of up to 75 miles per hour will increase Sunday evening and into Wednesday, raising the risk of fires spreading even further across Southern California.
Also the weather warning is preventing locals from returning home to inspect the damage, and making it more challenging for emergency workers to sift through the ash and rubble in search of dozens of people still missing.
Four fires ravaged 40,000 acres in L.A.’s most affluent neighborhoods, wiping out celebrity homes and A-list restaurant hotspots among the 12,300 buildings.
The Los Angeles Medical Examiner updated the death toll on Sunday afternoon, revealing that 24 people have now been confirmed to have died as a result of the fires.
But dozens more remain missing as evacuees locked out of their suburbs wait anxiously to return home and see what — if anything — remains.
As cadaver dogs are deployed to locate human remains, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna has warned that the death toll is likely to continue to rise.
“The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office and the Los Angeles County Fire Department [are] we use cadaver dogs and do grid searches,” he said.
The weather warning also prevents locals from returning home to inspect the damage
As cadaver dogs are deployed to locate human remains, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna has warned that the death toll will likely continue to rise.
Meteorologists warned residents in fire-ravaged evacuation zones that wind speeds will increase to 75 mph on Sunday evening and into Wednesday, raising the risk of fires spreading even further across Southern California.
A woman sits as she picks through the rubble of her mother’s home after it was destroyed by the Palisades Fire
A firefighting helicopter drops water as the fire grows in the Palisades
‘I don’t expect good news from that. We keep people informed.’
The fires continue to burn if:
Miles Bliss of the National Weather Service provided a grim update Sunday afternoon, warning that the strong Santa Ana winds that fueled last week’s infernos will intensify again.
“Critical fire conditions are expected during this time, so be prepared to evacuate when officials say so,” he said.
Similarly, meteorologist Rose Schoenfield warned, “The overall duration of this doesn’t look good.”
The weather is expected to contribute to another period of dangerous and potentially extreme fire conditions, which could worsen already burning fires and cause more new ones to emerge.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said, “It’s very important that the community understands that these wind events are coming.”
The weather is expected to contribute to another period of dangerous and potentially extreme fire conditions that could worsen already burning fires and cause even more new ones to emerge
Dozens of people are missing as evacuees locked out of their suburbs wait anxiously to return home and see what – if anything – remains.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said authorities will not consider allowing displaced residents to return home until the warning is lifted.
These conditions have prompted a red flag warning until 6pm on Wednesday.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said authorities will not consider allowing displaced residents to return home until the warning is lifted.
“Unfortunately, those conversations won’t begin until the next predicted red flag ends on Wednesday,” he said.
“Rest assured, on Thursday we will start talking about repopulation and evacuation orders and warning areas,” he said at a news conference on Sunday.
Carmen Balber, director of Consumer Watchdog, should immediately start documenting all costs they incur to ensure they get paid what they owe.
“If you are in an evacuation zone – and especially if you already know you have lost your home – contact your insurance company right away. You can get an advance on your policy limits,” she said.
The Palisades Fire, which started in upscale Pacific Palisades, started last Tuesday and has since burned 23,707 acres and left at least eight dead.
It spread from the famed Pacific Palisades enclave along the coast to Malibu, where it destroyed the iconic homes along the beach.
The fire spread from the famed Pacific Palisades coastal enclave to Malibu, where it destroyed the iconic homes along the beach.
An American flag is seen in tatters flying over a burned house after the Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire reached more than 23,000 acres on Sunday evening
Miles Teller, Mel Gibson and Paris Hilton are among the A-list celebrities who lost their homes in the inferno.
But as firefighters tried to bring the blaze under control, a separate fire broke out near Pasadena, since dubbed the Eaton Fire.
This fire has spread over slightly less land of 14,117 hectares, but has claimed at least 16 lives and the death toll is expected to rise. Mandy Moore’s home was among those charred beyond recognition in the Eaton fire.
Victims from both fires include a man who died while still holding a garden hose and a woman who didn’t want to leave her pets behind.
A British former child star who was blind and had cerebral palsy also tragically died after telling his mother to ‘leave him behind’.
Rory Callum Sykes, 32, lost his life Thursday when his self-contained cottage on his mother’s estate in Malibu burned down.
Several other fires broke out in the past week and were subsequently brought under control, including one in the Hollywood Hills and another that swept into the Kardashian enclave of Calabasas.
The widespread tragedy and ongoing evacuation orders have led to looting and chaos. So far, 29 burglars have been arrested, including one man who was caught disguised as a firefighter.