Firefighters in Los Angeles got a short break from strong winds on Tuesday as they battled two huge wildfires. The weather service warned that dangerous wind conditions would return soon. While winds were calmer in the evening, they were expected to get stronger overnight, which could help fires spread.
Residents were still on high alert and ready to evacuate if needed. Police reported around 50 arrests related to looting and other crimes, including three people caught trying to set small fires. Officials did not know what started the major fires, which have already killed at least 25 people.
Utilities shut off power to almost 90,000 homes to prevent sparks from power lines. Fire crews from nearby states and countries joined the fight against the fires. Many families prepared to stay in place, hoping to protect their homes while watching for looters.
One resident, Kaylin Johnson, felt trapped but safer at home. She and her neighbors were watering their properties to keep fires away.
The weather service declared a “Particularly Dangerous Situation,” warning that dry conditions and strong winds could cause new fires to grow rapidly. Many people were ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass looked over the damaged areas. She and other officials were confident that they had better resources to handle new fires. Even though winds weren’t expected to be as strong as before, they could still ground firefighting aircraft.
Because there hasn’t been much rain lately, wildfires are happening more often. Firefighters are quick to stop small fires when they start, but the largest blazes have burned over 63 square miles altogether. Many people are still missing, and the number of people told to evacuate has decreased to about 90,000.
The wildfire crisis has also disrupted Hollywood, delaying Oscar nominations and awards
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