LA fires: Death toll soars to 24 as ‘upcoming wind’ threatens to fuel the flames | World | News

After a weekend spent blocking the explosive growth of fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the  Los Angeles area, firefighters got a slight break with calmer weather but cast a wary eye on a forecast for yet more wind.

If that happens, already-burned homes and valleys could flare anew, sending embers to unburned territory miles downwind. New fires could add to the complication.

The death toll surged late Sunday with an update from the Los Angeles County medical examiner. At least 16 people were missing, a number authorities said was also likely to rise.

However, the relatively calm Sunday allowed some people to return to previously evacuated areas.

The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph) and gusts in the mountains reaching 70 mph (113 kph). Fire behaviour analyst Dennis Burns warned at a community meeting Sunday night that Tuesday will be the most dangerous day.

“It will kind of ebb and flow over the next couple days,” Burns said. “Tomorrow night, it will really ramp up.”

Spotting — new fires caused by blowing embers — could happen as much as 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) or more downwind of areas that have already burned, Burns said.

Despite their recent losses, stress, and uncertainty, the Pasadena City College gym crowd was mostly respectful, contrasting with harsh criticism elsewhere for Los Angeles and California leaders. Applause followed each expert, police, firefighters and community leaders who spoke.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said 70 additional water trucks arrived to help firefighters fend off flames spread by renewed gusts. “We are prepared for the upcoming wind event,” Marrone said.

Officials said that a fire retardant dropped by an aircraft will act as a barrier along hillsides.

Fierce Santa Ana winds have been largely blamed for turning the wildfires sparked last week into infernos that levelled entire neighbourhoods around the city where there has been no significant rainfall in more than eight months.

Twelve people were missing within the Eaton Fire zone, and four were missing from the Palisades Fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. Investigators were reconciling whether some of the missing might be among the dead, but so far, no children were among those reported missing, he said.

Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 24 over the weekend. According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, eight deaths were attributed to the Palisades Fire and 16 to the Eaton Fire.

The toll could rise still more as cadaver dogs conducted systematic searches in levelled neighbourhoods. Authorities established a centre where people could report the missing.

Officials also were building an online database to allow evacuated residents to see if their homes were damaged or destroyed. In the meantime, LA City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley urged people to stay away from scorched neighbourhoods.

“There are still active fires that are burning within the Palisades area, making it extremely dangerous for the public,” Crowley said at a Sunday morning briefing. “There’s no power, there’s no water, there’s broken gas lines, and we have unstable structures.”