SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Powerful Santa Ana winds returned to the Los Angeles area on Tuesday, threatening to reverse some of the progress made in the battle against deadly wildfires that have destroyed entire neighborhoods and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes.
Winds of 45 to 70 mph were forecast through the midweek, with peak wind gusts expected between Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service, which issued critical red flag warnings across much of southwestern California.
With the combination of high winds, low humidity and relentless drought conditions, the weather service office in Los Angeles warned of a “particularly dangerous situation” for the northern Los Angeles County and Ventura County areas, adding, “this setup is about as bad as it gets.”
Scores of firefighters, including additional personnel from Canada, Mexico, and other nearby U.S. states, were combating the fires from the air and on the ground. Officials worried the high winds could further expand the Palisades and Eaton blazes as well as fuel the formation and growth of new wildfires.
At least 24 people have been killed in the fires, according to the Los Angeles medical examiner’s office. The wildfires have destroyed or damaged more than 12,000 homes, businesses, and other structures as officials ordered over 92,000 people to flee their homes.
