A helicopter drops water while fighting the Auto Fire in Ventura County, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 13. Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Millions Southern Californians faced new wildfire warnings Tuesday, and tens of thousands saw their power shut off as strong winds blew across the parched landscape around Los Angeles where two massive blazes have been burning for a week.
Santa Ana winds that began gusting over the mountains before sunrise were forecast to continue with enough force to carry fire-sparking embers for miles and stoke new outbreaks in a region where at least 24 people have already been killed.
“Life threatening and destructive and widespread winds are already here,” LA city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told a news conference.
Much of Southern California was under an elevated fire risk, with crews on high alert across a 300-mile (482 km) stretch from San Diego to far north of Los Angeles. Facing the greatest risk were inland areas north of LA, including densely populated Thousand Oaks, Northridge and Simi Valley, home to more than 300,000 people, forecasters said.
Nearly 90,000 households lost electricity as utilities shut off power to prevent their lines from sparking new blazes.
A state of alert
Weary and anxious residents were told to be ready to flee at a moment’s notice. They remained vigilant, keeping an eye on the skies and on each other: Police announced roughly 50 arrests, for looting, flying drones in fire zones, violating curfew and other crimes.
Of those, three people were arrested on suspicion of arson after being seen setting small fires that were immediately extinguished, LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell said. One was using a barbecue lighter, another ignited brush and a third tried to light up a trash can, he said. All were far outside the disaster zones. Authorities have not determined a cause for any of the major fires.
Among nine people charged with looting was a group that stole an Emmy from an evacuated house, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
The biggest worry remained the threat from intense winds predicted to reach nearly hurricane force Tuesday in some areas. Now backed by firefighters from other states, Canada and Mexico, crews were deployed to attack flareups or new blazes. The firefighting force was much bigger than a week ago, when the first wave of fires began destroying thousands of homes in what could become the nation's costliest fire disaster.
Kaylin Johnson and her family planned to spend the night at their home, one of the few left standing in her neighborhood in Altadena, near Pasadena. They intended to keep watch to ward off looting and to hose down the house and her neighbors’ properties to prevent flareups.
“Our lives have been put on hold indefinitely,” Johnson said via text message, adding that they cannot freely come and go because of restrictions on entering the burn areas. “But I would rather be here and not leave than to not be allowed back at all.”
An unusual and ominous warning
Tuesday's forecast included a rare warning: The winds, combined with severely dry conditions, have created a “ Particularly Dangerous Situation,” the National Weather Service said, meaning that any new fire could explode in size.
Gusts were forecast to pick up strength in the evening and into Wednesday before decreasing, and red-flag warnings from Central California to the Mexican border were to remain through most of Wednesday, weather service meteorologist Ariel Cohen said.
Packed and ready to go
Residents gathered up pets and family photos in case they had to make a hasty escape. Tabitha Trosen said she was “teetering” on the edge, constantly fearing her neighborhood could be next.
“Our cats are ready to go. We have their carriers by the door prepped with their little stuffed animals and things like that,” Trosen said. “It’s like, how do I take care of myself, and what are the things that will ground me as a human and remind me of my background and my life and my family.”
Preparing for another outbreak
Planes doused homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-retardant chemicals, while crews and fire engines deployed to particularly vulnerable spots with dry brush.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials who were criticized over their initial response expressed confidence that the region is ready to face the new threat. The mayor said she was able to fly over the disaster areas, which she described as resembling the aftermath of a “dry hurricane.”
Winds this time were not expected to reach the same fierce speeds seen last week but could ground firefighting aircraft, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said. He warned that if winds reach 70 mph, “it’s going to be very difficult to contain that fire.”
He urged homeless people to avoid starting fires for warmth and to seek shelter.
Wildfires on the rise across LA
With almost no rain in more than eight months, the brush-filled region has had more than a dozen wildfires this year, mostly in the greater Los Angeles area.
Firefighters have been jumping on small blazes that pop up. One, in a dry riverbed near Oxnard Monday night, was quickly smothered. “We’ve got helicopters ready to go, to drop water on any new fires,” said Andrew Dowd, a spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department.
The four largest fires around the nation’s second-biggest city have scorched more than 63 square miles (163 square kilometers), roughly three times the size of Manhattan. Of these, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena was roughly one-third contained, while the largest blaze, in Pacific Palisades on the coast, was far less contained.
Searching for victims
The death toll is likely to rise, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. At least two dozen people were still missing, he said Tuesday. Some people reported as missing earlier have been found.
Just under 90,000 people in the county remained under evacuation orders, half the number from last week.
Hollywood on hold
Hollywood’s awards season has been put on hiatus because of the crisis. The Oscar nominations have been delayed twice, and some organizations postponed their awards shows and announcements without rescheduling.
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Firefighters walk along a road in a fire-ravaged community in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13. Associated Press
Cars sit at an auto repair shop after they were destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Monday, Jan. 13. Associated Press
Burned trees are seen through a broken and charred window in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire on Monday, Jan. 13, in Altadena, Calif. Associated Press
President Joe Biden listens during a meeting with senior officials as he is briefed on the federal response to the wildfires across Los Angeles during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 13. The map in the background shows the projected wind speeds. Associated Press
Fire retardant from crews battling the Palisades Fire coats flowers in Mandeville Canyon on Monday, Jan. 13, in Los Angeles. Associated Press
Ariel Hart holds her newborn baby as flames of the Palisades Fire are visible through the window at St. John's hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 7. Associated Press
Items are laid out at an aid center for people affected by wildfires at Santa Anita Park Monday, Jan. 13, in Arcadia, Calif. Associated Press
A partially burned yearbook is seen on the ground in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13. Associated Press
A mural by Sergei Statsenko, who also goes by the artist name Steeke, thanks firefighters in the Venice Beach area of Los Angeles as wildfires burn Monday, Jan. 13. Associated Press
A firefighter sets up a hose while fighting the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, Jan. 11, in Los Angeles. Associated Press
A mural by Sergei Statsenko, who also goes by the artist name Steeke, thanks firefighters in the Venice Beach area of Los Angeles as wildfires burn Monday, Jan. 13. Associated Press
David Slater, right, clears the driveway from his home, spared from the Eaton Fire, Jan. 12, in Altadena, Calif. Associated Press
Damage is seen to the Altadena Community Church in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, Monday, Jan. 13, in Altadena, Calif. Associated Press
Retardant covers a hillside after crews battled the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon Monday, Jan. 13, in Los Angeles. Associated Press
The facade of the Altadena Community Church stands amid damage from the Eaton Fire on Monday, Jan. 13, in Altadena, Calif. Associated Press
Abandoned cars, some burned by Palisades Fire, sit on the side of a road Monday, Jan. 13, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Associated Press
A worker services a utility pole in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire on Monday, Jan. 13, in Altadena, Calif. Associated Press
Apple Valley Fire District Captain Manuel Lafarga, center, and firefighter James Lyons hose down hot spots in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13. Associated Press
Homes along the Pacific coast are burned to the ground in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire Monday, Jan. 13, in Malibu, Calif. Associated Press
Homes along the Pacific Coast Highway are seen burned by the Palisades Fire, Sunday, Jan. 12, in Malibu, Calif. Associated Press
A Chase Bank branch destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13. Associated Press
A search team looks for victims' remains at a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 11. Associated Press
Apple Valley Fire District firefighter Wyatt Cortez walks through a destroyed house as he puts out hot spots from the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13. Associated Press
A destroyed Volkswagen Beetle is reflected in the back window of an intact Volkswagen vehicle in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13. Associated Press
Homes along Pacific Coast Highway are left burned to the ground in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire Monday, Jan. 13, in Malibu, Calif. Associated Press
Caution tape cordons off townhomes and trees burned by the Eaton Fire on Monday, Jan. 13, in Altadena, Calif. Associated Press