Weather forecasters in California are warning fierce winds which fuelled the infernos around Los Angeles are expected to pick up again this week, as fire crews on the ground race to make progress controlling three wildfires. Officials warned that after a weekend of relatively calm winds, the notoriously dry Santa Ana winds would pick up again from Sunday night until Wednesday, reaching speeds of up to 60mph (96km/h). Ahead of the wind’s uptick, some progress has been made in stopping the spread of the Palisades and deadly Eaton fires, which are burning on opposite ends of the city. Local firefighters are being assisted by crews from eight other states, as well as Canada and Mexico, who continue to arrive. In a news conference on Sunday, officials said that 16 people have been confirmed dead, and another 16 remain missing. They also warned that the death toll is expected to rise as urban search and rescue crews sweep the ruins using cadaver dogs. Three conflagrations continue to burn around Los Angeles. The largest fire is the Palisades, which has now burned through 23,000 acres and is 11% contained. The Eaton fire is the second biggest, having burned through 14,000 acres, and is 27% contained. The Hurst fire has grown to 799 acres and has been almost fully contained. While crews have managed to start containing the largest fires, authorities have warned the incoming wind event could lead to “potential disastrous wind conditions”, with the whole of LA County put under fire threat.
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