Firefighters around Los Angeles were preparing on Tuesday to attack flare-ups or new blazes. The National Weather Service issued a rare warning that dry winds combined with severely dry conditions created a “ particularly dangerous situation," indicating that any new fire could explode in size. The warning comes a week after two massive infernos destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.
Here's the latest:
Search efforts for those reported missing enter another day
At least two dozen people have been reported missing in the two largest wildfires, and sheriff’s deputies are searching or them. But that number changes often.
Conditions remain dangerous throughout the burned areas and the threat of additional fires is real.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said that despite the progress that’s been made in some areas, people need to be vigilant.
“I don’t want people to start thinking everything’s OK now. Everything’s not OK yet,” Luna said. “We’ll get there together, but again the wind’s blowing and it’s going to continue to blow.”
Officials are helping residents access medications and other help
Anish Mahajan, Chief Deputy Director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said there is help for residents who need refills on medications they may have left behind or new prescriptions.
Mahajan said there is also a program available that can provide medication to people who are receiving opioid addiction treatment.
The high winds are expected to create air quality problems in the Los Angeles area as ash from the wildfires is picked up in the winds. Mahajan urged everyone to wear an N-95 or P-100 protective mask if they have to be outside in an area with poor air quality.
FEMA is assisting people with immediate needs
Some 40,000 people have already applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has provided over $8 million so far for immediate needs, said Robert J. Fenton, Jr., regional administrator for FEMA Region 9.
But Fenton said at a news conference on Tuesday that everyone will need to file insurance claims. FEMA aid is designed to help with unmet needs — after insurance claims are paid.
Fenton said the maximum amount of aid FEMA can provide is $43,600.
President Joe Biden has said the federal government would pay 100% of the firefighting and recovery costs in the first 180 days, but Fenton noted that doesn’t mean FEMA will cover 100% of individual families’ costs.
Bass says damage from the wildfires is devastating to see
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass got a chance to survey the wildfire damage from the air Monday, and she said it was devastating to see.
Bass said seeing the destruction drove home the enormity of the situation, and described the aftermath of the wind-driven infernos as a “dry hurricane.”
Bass said she wants to begin thinking about how Los Angeles will rebuild from the massive destruction.
She added that she has taken steps to reduce the bureaucracy residents may face when they start to recover from the fires and has also signed an order to clear the path for debris removal.
All eyes are on FEMA, county supervisor says
LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is the agency designed to help people at their darkest moment, but residents need clear answers about exactly what help they can expect.
“We need to be very clear about what help FEMA can provide,” Barger said on Tuesday morning.
3 people have been arrested since Sunday on suspicion of arson
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said all three were arrested on suspicion of arson.
One person was using a barbecue lighter to start fires. Another person lit a trash can on fire. The third person was caught lighting brush on fire. Those small fires were all quickly extinguished.
The arson arrests were in addition to nearly 40 arrests for looting, flying drones illegally that could interfere with firefighting aircraft, curfew violations and other things, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
About 85,000 people have been warned they might face evacuation orders
Strong winds over the next day will create dangerous conditions as several major wildfires continue to burn in the Los Angeles area.
About 88,000 people remained under evacuation orders Tuesday morning because of the fires. But another 84,800 have been warned that they might be ordered to evacuate.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna encouraged people to consider leaving when they get a warning without waiting for an order.
Luna pointed out that his deputies had to rescue many people who waited until the last minute when evacuations were ordered last week.
Nearly 3 dozen arrests have been made
Authorities have made nearly 40 arrests for looting, flying drones illegally that could interfere with firefighting aircraft, curfew violations and other things, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
At least two dozen people have been reported missing
Sheriff’s officials said Tuesday they are investigating at least two dozen missing persons cases — 18 in the Eaton Fire and six around the Palisades.
‘It is still very dangerous for the next 24 hours,’ sheriff says
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna urged people to leave as soon as evacuation warnings are issued.
He added that despite the progress that’s been made in some areas, people need to be vigilant.
“I don’t want people to start thinking everything’s OK now. Everything’s not OK yet,” Luna said. “We’ll get there together but again the wind’s blowing and it’s going to continue to blow.”
Evacuation orders could rise over the coming day
Some 88,000 people are currently under evacuation orders, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said on Tuesday at a morning news conference.
Luna warned that number could go up over the next 24 hours with the wind threat.
“Life-threatening and destructive and widespread winds are already here,” LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley said.
Thousands are currently without power
About 85,000 customers were without power Tuesday morning in southern California, according to PowerOutage.us website that tracks outages nationwide.
That number could grow significantly as the winds pick up throughout the day if utilities have to shut off power to reduce the risk of sparking a new fire with their utility lines.
Southern California Edison warned about 450,000 customers Monday that their power may be shut off temporarily because of the expected high winds.
The National Weather Service said Tuesday that strong winds were expected to resume in the morning and continue at least through mid-morning before slowing in the afternoon. The Santa Ana winds this week are expected to follow a more typical pattern with the strongest winds in the mornings.