Los Angeles fires: 16 dead, 16 missing; red flag warning issued for dangerous week ahead

Wildfires raging across the Los Angeles area have killed 16 people and destroyed thousands of homes, with at least 16 more people missing. Firefighters are battling the blazes, but strong winds are expected to return this week, raising concerns about further fire spread.

The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for critical fire conditions through Wednesday, predicting wind gusts up to 113 kilometers per hour in the mountains. “You’re going to have really strong gusty Santa Ana winds, a very dry atmosphere and still very dry brush, so we still have some very critical fire weather conditions out there,” said meteorologist Rich Thompson.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff, Robert Luna, confirmed 12 people are missing in the Eaton Fire zone and four in the Palisades Fire zone, with the possibility of more unreported cases. The coroner’s office attributed five deaths to the Palisades Fire and 11 to the Eaton Fire. Officials anticipate the death toll may rise as search teams with cadaver dogs continue to work in the devastated neighborhoods.

Around 150,000 Los Angeles County residents remain under evacuation orders, with over 700 sheltering in nine locations. Officials stated most evacuation orders will likely remain in place until the red flag warnings expire Wednesday evening. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone assured residents, “Please rest assured that first thing Thursday we will begin talking about repopulation.”

The Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, and Hurst fires have collectively burned over 160 square kilometers. The Palisades Fire is 11% contained, and the Eaton Fire has reached 27% containment. Firefighters from California, nine other states, and Mexico are working to control the blazes. LA City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley warned the public, “There are still active fires that are burning within the Palisades area, making it extremely, extremely dangerous for the public.”

Damage estimates range from $135 billion to $150 billion. California Governor Gavin Newsom suggested these fires could become the worst natural disaster in US history “in terms of just the costs associated with it, in terms of the scale and scope.” Governor Newsom issued an executive order to expedite rebuilding efforts. President Joe Biden's disaster declaration has led to over 24,000 people registering for federal assistance.

With AP Inputs