The death toll from the Los Angeles fires increases, with the arrival of dangerous winds

The death toll from the massive wildfires that have devastated Los Angeles rose to 24 on Sunday, with authorities warning of the arrival of dangerous winds that could further fan the flames.

Fires continued to rage through America’s second-largest city for a sixth day, reducing entire communities to scorched rubble and leaving thousands of people homeless.

Massive firefighting efforts have stopped the spread of the Palisades Fire, which was barreling toward upscale Brentwood and the densely populated San Fernando Valley.

But conditions will worsen dramatically, with “extreme fire behavior and life-threatening conditions” in the coming days.

Winds of up to 110 kilometers per hour mean a “particularly dangerous situation (PDS)” will be declared starting early Tuesday, National Weather Service meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld said.

These gusts could fan the flames and fan embers from existing burned areas into new areas, firefighters warned.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said his department had received resources, including dozens of new tankers and firefighters from distant locations, and was prepared to meet the renewed threat.

When asked if the hydrants could run dry again, as they did during the start of the fires last week, Mayor Karen Bass responded, “I think the city is prepared.”

There was frustration for evacuees who were told they would not return to their homes until at least Thursday, when the winds died down.

Some have queued for hours hoping to return to the homes they fled to pick up medicine or a change of clothes.

– Search for bodies –

But Sheriff Robert Luna said escorts to these areas were suspended Sunday due to winds and dangerous conditions among the debris, as well as the need to recover victims’ bodies.

Teams with cadaver dogs searched the internet in the grim expectation that the confirmed death toll would rise.

Several more arrests of looters were made, including a thief who had disguised himself as a firefighter to rob homes.

Nighttime curfews were extended in evacuated areas and additional resources were requested from the National Guard.

Blocked from entering an evacuation zone, Altadena resident Bobby Salman, 42, said, “I have to be there to protect my family, my wife, my children, my mother and I can’t even go see them.”

– Fire tornado –

The Palisades Fire has already consumed 23,700 acres (9,500 hectares) and was only 11 percent contained.

Video footage showed “fire tornadoes”: red-hot spirals that occur when a fire is so intense that it creates its own weather system.

The fierce fire also left streaks of molten metal gushing from the burned cars.

But containment of the 14,000-acre Eaton Fire in Altadena had improved, according to figures, with 27 percent of its perimeter under control.

The Los Angeles County medical examiner released a list of deaths without giving details of identities. Eight of the dead were found in the Palisades Fire area and 16 in the Eaton Fire area, according to the document.

The total number of residents under evacuation orders fell to around 100,000, from a peak of nearly 180,000.

The sudden rush of people needing a place to live has posed a growing problem for the city, with reports of illegal price gouging by opportunistic landlords.

“I’m back on the market with tens of thousands of people,” said a man who identified himself as Brian, whose rent-controlled apartment had burned down. “That doesn’t bode well.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom promised the city would be rebuilt and said there would be a “Marshall Plan,” a reference to U.S. support that put Europe back on its feet after World War II.

“We already have a team that seeks to reinvent LA 2.0,” he said.

– ‘The worst catastrophes’ –

President-elect Donald Trump has accused California officials of incompetence.

“This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our country. They just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

A heroic firefighting operation that has operated 24/7 since the first flames broke out was reinforced on Sunday with the arrival of teams from Mexico.

They join teams from across California and the western United States who have come to help.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky even offered on Sunday to send 150 people to California from his war-torn country.

“The situation there is extremely difficult and Ukrainians can help Americans save lives,” he wrote on social media.

A major investigation by federal and local authorities was underway to determine what caused the fires.

While the start of a wildfire can be deliberate, it is often natural and a vital part of the life cycle of an environment.

But urban sprawl increasingly puts people at risk, and the changing climate—supercharged by humanity’s uncontrolled use of fossil fuels—is exacerbating the conditions that lead to destructive fires.

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