Strong and dangerous winds expected this week in the Los Angeles area could once again ignite devastating fires that have been ravaging the western coast of the United States (U.S.) for nearly two weeks, meteorologists announced yesterday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Los Angeles predicts that the Santa Ana winds will blow through the city from Monday to Tuesday at speeds of up to 130 km/h, potentially reigniting fires.
The announcement came after firefighters reported progress in their efforts to contain the Eaton fire near Palisades, as temperatures dropped and winds weakened over the weekend.
Since the fires broke out on January 7th in the Los Angeles area, at least 27 people have died, and more than 12.000 structures in various city neighborhoods have been damaged or completely destroyed. Several residents are still reported missing.
Currently, approximately 73% of the Eaton fire near Pasadena has been contained, along with 49% of the Palisades fire, which destroyed luxury residential neighborhoods on the western edge of Los Angeles, burning 96 square kilometers, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Thousands of residents have been allowed to return home thanks to improved weather conditions over the weekend. However, everyone in the region has been urged to remain vigilant in case they need to evacuate again due to changing weather conditions.
The NWS has repeatedly warned that winds fanning the flames could lead to new fires sparked by lingering embers.
Efforts to extinguish the fires from the air are being hindered by strong winds, while the spread of existing and new fires is being fueled by extremely dry vegetation.
