By Amy Graff, Jonathan Wolfe and Claire Moses
Forecasts for strong winds on late Monday raised concerns that some of the hard-won progress firefighters achieved recently could be compromised, as they fight the extensive wildfires that have wreaked havoc across Southern California.
Authorities have issued an unusual fire danger warning for Tuesday through Wednesday afternoon. A similar alert was given last week ahead of the Eaton fire, which has affected areas of Altadena and Pasadena, as well as the Palisades fire on Los Angeles’ west side. While both fires are now somewhat contained, they have evolved into two of the most catastrophic wildfires in California’s history.
In light of the impending threat, fire crews and resources are being dispatched to vulnerable locations, including the area around the Palisades fire, officials indicated. While wind speeds in the coming days might not match those from the previous week, their duration could exacerbate the fire risk.
“We are definitely not out of the woods yet,” Los Angeles fire chief Kristin M. Crowley stated during a news conference on Monday. “We cannot let our guard down.”
Here’s what we are reporting:
— Containment status: Over the weekend, firefighters managed to slow the progress of the Eaton fire near Altadena and Pasadena. The blaze, spanning 14,000 acres, did not expand on Sunday and was reported to be 33% contained by Monday morning, according to Cal Fire, while the Palisades fire, covering 23,700 acres on the west side of Los Angeles, was only 14% contained.
— Casualties: The Eaton fire has claimed the lives of 16 individuals, making it one of the deadliest in California’s record, and at least eight fatalities have been linked to the Palisades blaze. Additionally, 16 individuals are reported missing in the vicinity of the two fires, and officials have cautioned that the death toll may continue to rise.
— Extent of damage: The total land area consumed by the fires in the past week — almost 40,000 acres — exceeds the boundaries of the city of San Francisco. Although the number of people under evacuation orders has slightly decreased to 92,000 from over 100,000 on Sunday, many others have been cautioned that they may need to evacuate. The most significant fires have damaged more than 12,000 structures, which includes homes, vehicles, and outbuildings.
— Initial findings: While the exact cause of the fires remains uncertain, power lines near the Eaton and Palisades fires were active at the onset of those blazes and could have contributed. “We are investigating all possible angles,” stated Dominic Choi, the assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, on Monday, noting that arson has not been dismissed as a potential cause.
