Winds that have fueled wildfires in the US city of Los Angeles are expected to pick up again in the early hours of Wednesday morning – after the 25th death from the massive, week-long outbreak was confirmed.
Forecasters have again identified an area of ”extreme fire danger”, highlighting the level of risk in the region northwest of the city centre.
The expected increase in wind speed threatens to fan the remaining four fires further, with the extinguishing of which the firefighters made further progress during several days of calmer conditions.
There are hopes for another drop in wind speeds after Wednesday – but officials stressed the need for rain to help fire crews in their fight.
On the 25th, the death was confirmed by the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office. Thirteen more people are missing.
Most of the victims died in the Eaton fire, which has burned more than 14,000 hectares in the north of the city but is now 35% contained by firefighters.
Farther west, the larger Palisades fire has burned more than 23,000 acres and is now 18% contained. Two smaller fires are still raging.
Some victims of the Eaton fire are now being allowed to return to their homes, though officials say they don’t have an exact date for repopulating the Palisades area, the upscale area devastated by the fire for which it was named.
So tens of thousands of people are still under evacuation orders – where overnight curfews are also being enforced – and thousands of homes have been destroyed in one of the costliest natural disasters in American history.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the scenes as “unimaginable,” vowing to use her executive powers to launch a swift rebuilding effort.
Outlining other measures to help local residents, another official, the LA County Supervisor, said an emergency proclamation would be issued to prevent alleged price gouging by LA landlords amid the crisis.
Wednesday’s critical conditions are due to moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds combined with very low humidity, BBC forecaster Sarah Keith-Lucas said.
Winds are expected to peak again at 0300 local time (1100 GMT) for a twelve-hour period, according to the local office of the National Weather Service (NWS). Gusts could reach 80 km/h.
Compared to last week’s conditions, winds are “lighter but still strong,” the NWS warns.
For this reason, areas northwest of Los Angeles — including Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks — are considered particularly dangerous.
But conditions are expected to improve later on Thursday and into Friday. Despite the change in winds, no rainfall is forecast for at least next week, added BBC forecaster Sarah Keith-Lucas. And the Santa Ana winds that have been blamed for fueling the fires could develop again starting Sunday.
The Pasadena City Fire Chief reiterated the need for rainfall.
There hasn’t been “real rain in southern California” for more than 250 days, Chad Augustin told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
On Wednesday, his firefighters will be “on watch ready to make sure we hold our protective lines and don’t burn down any more structures,” Mr. Augustine.
