Many residents across the region are getting their first looks at damage and destruction to homes and businesses.
The Los Angeles area made it through Wednesday without a major fire breaking out amid another round of particularly dangerous winds.
As calmer winds assist firefighters battling the Southern California blazes, there has been progress in containing the wildfires in L.A. County, but residents should remain vigilant, officials said, warning that smoldering hot spots that can burn down into the roots of trees and bushes.
Most red flag fire warnings have expired, but AccuWeather forecasters warn that another round of Santa Ana winds is expected to begin early next week.
“The setup has the potential to be similar to the extreme event of last week that led to explosive expansion and fast movement of the fires that started,” AccuWeather meteorologist Heather Zerh warned. “Winds look strong and, with a return to lower humidity, will create a very high fire risk again. This event could bring stronger gusts than usual into downtown Los Angeles and surrounding areas, like last week. Winds would start to pick up during the day on Monday and be strongest from Monday night into Tuesday but continue into next Wednesday.”
Firefighters make progress containing the fires
The death toll from the most and second-most destructive fires in Southern California history stands at 25. Nine of the victims died in the Palisades Fire and 16 perished in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner. The number of missing has fluctuated as high as two dozen as crews with cadaver dogs search the rubble and ashes left behind…