Firefighters scrambled Sunday to make further progress against wildfires that have killed 16 people in the Los Angeles area as forecasters again warned of dangerous weather with the return of strong winds this week.
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A fire fighting helicopter drops water as the Palisades fire grows near the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and Encino, California, on January 11, 2025. Image- AFP
Wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles on Sunday confronted the return of dangerous winds, as officials said that firefighters were ready to combat any new blazes whipped up by furious gusts.
At least 16 people have been confirmed dead as wildfires have ravaged the city for five days, leaving entire communities destroyed and thousands displaced. Despite extensive efforts, including targeted aerial operations, the largest fire continued its spread toward the upscale Brentwood area and the heavily populated San Fernando Valley.
Renewed winds up to 50 miles (80 kilometers) per hour will keep the fire threat “critical” for days, and could fan flames and whip up embers from existing burn zones into new areas, firefighters warned Sunday.
Los Angeles County Fire Department chief Anthony Marrone said his department had received resources including dozens of new water trucks and firefighters from far afield, and was primed to face the renewed threat.
Six simultaneous blazes that have ripped across the second-largest U.S. city since Tuesday had killed at least 14 people as of Sunday morning. At least 16 people are estimated to be missing.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he expected the death toll to rise. “I’ve got search and rescue teams out. We’ve got cadaver dogs out and there’s likely to be a lot more