Los Angeles Wildfires Live Updates: A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Los Angeles. (AP photo)
California Wildfires Live Updates: After the death toll in the Los Angeles wildfires rose to 24 on Monday, the National Weather Service forecast strong winds intensifying over the week, prompting red flag warnings, The Guardian reported. With gusts reaching up to 70 mph in mountainous areas, the weather service has warned of “explosive fire growth” and urged residents to follow evacuation orders promptly. Officials have identified Tuesday as the most dangerous day, as per The Guardianwith conditions expected to escalate overnight.
What is the current status of the fires? Firefighters in the Los Angeles area are battling three major wildfires that have claimed at least 24 lives, burned over 40,000 acres, and forced 150,000 people to evacuate, as per The Washington Post. The Palisades fire, the largest, is 13% contained, while the Eaton fire, the deadliest with 16 fatalities, is 27% contained.
How did the wildfires start? The wildfires erupted last week on Tuesday (January 7), fueled by powerful offshore winds and extremely dry conditions, as per NBC. Wind gusts exceeding 70 mph swept across the region, combining with drought-like conditions—less than 10% of the average rainfall since October 1—to create fire weather. The National Weather Service described the fire danger as “about as bad as it gets.” While the exact cause of the fires remains undetermined, reported NBCexperts attribute the heightened wildfire risk to California’s climate patterns, which oscillate between drought and heavy rainfall.
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