Authorities recommend people to be ready for the next round of high winds in Southern California

One week after the Eaton Canyon fire in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades fire began their destruction, authorities said they are ready for increasing wind conditions with gusts of up to 70 miles per hour. 

The red flag warning is until Wednesday at 6 p.m. These high winds combined with low humidity levels could spread new fires or re-ignite existing blazes, authorities said during Tuesday’s press conference.

Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Chief Kristen Crowley said they have strategically placed fire patrols and engines in the unimpacted, high-fire-risk areas in the city.

“We are carefully managing our operations to ensure that we can quickly respond to any new fires,” she said. 

The Eaton fire has burned 14,117 acres, with containment at 35%. The Palisades fire had scorched 23,713 acres with 17% containment. There are 52,000 personnel assigned to contain that fire. Since then, other fires erupted in Southern California, including the Hurst fire in Sylmar, which burned 799 acres and is 97% contained, and the most recent one Monday night in Ventura identified as the Auto fire that burned 55 acres and is fully contained. 

Crowley said she and her team conducted an aerial survey of the impacted areas to gain a full understanding of the total impact of the communities. The goal was to address both the immediate challenges and the long-term needs of those affected. She said she was also able to meet with international partners from Mexico and thank them for their assistance. 

By Tuesday morning at least 24 deaths were confirmed -- 16 in the Eaton fire and eight in the Palisades fire -- and dozens are still missing. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said his department is actively searching for 24 missing people due to the fires. City of Los Angeles Chief Police Jim McDonnell said his department is searching for 11 missing people. They expect the number to rise as the investigation continues. 

Be prepared

Los Angeles City Mayor Karen Bass said many people have been asking her how they can help first responders. The best way, she says, is to be prepared. 

“If you hear that your area is under a warning, then get packed right away. If the order is to evacuate, then evacuate immediately,” she said.

She said they want to prevent what happened last week when the fires were at their worst and people had difficulty getting through traffic. Many were forced to leave their cars in the middle of the road and escape the fire by foot. 

Bass said she also signed a directive for a policy to create a rebuilding effort for the next few days. 

“We don’t want people burdened by red tape and bureaucracy, so my executive directive addresses that, streamlining the debris removal. It talks about immediate action that we can take to make 1,400 units of housing available immediately,” she said. 

Resources available

The new Disaster Recovery Centers opened Tuesday and they will provide resources for individuals and families impacted by the fires. This includes recovering vital records such as birth certificates, driver’s licenses and Social Security cards. Also those who lost their homes will receive help on how to apply for Disaster Relief Loans and referrals. Nurses and counselors will also be onsite. 

The centers will be open seven days a week from 9am to 8pm. 

• Westside Location: 10850 Pico Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90064

• Eastside Location: 3035 E. Foothill Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107

• Online resources available at emergency.lacity.gov/recovery