24 confirmed killed in California wildfires, flame-fueling winds to return
California wildfires LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: An FBI agent investigates illegal drone activity around the Palisades Fire area on January 12, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are still burning across Los Angeles County while some containment has been achieved. At least 16 people have died and over 100,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Nearly two dozen people have been killed by destructive wildfires that continue to burn across Southern California.
Over recent days, the Santa Ana winds calmed, allowing firefighters to battle back against the flames, trying to bring the blazes under control. But this week strong winds are expected to blow through the region fueling the fires, The Associated Press reported.
Sustained winds will reach 50 mph while the mountains could see gusts as high as 70 mph. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service said the most dangerous day will be Tuesday.
“You’re going to have really strong gusty Santa Ana winds, a very dry atmosphere and still very dry brush, so we still have some very critical fire weather conditions out there,” NWS meteorologist Rich Thompson said, according to the AP.
The red flag warning will be in effect until Wednesday, The Washington Post reported.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said the crews will be ready with 70 additional water trucks being called in and fire retardant dropped on hillsides.
There are also crews from Mexico and Canada that have been sent to battle the fires, and allow those who have been doing so since Tuesday, to get a much-needed break, The BBC and The Washington Post reported. Firefighters from Texas, Arizona and Colorado have also been deployed.
As the flames are expected to grow, 24 people were confirmed dead and at least 23 are considered missing officials said during a Monday morning news conference. The numbers are expected to grow. Cadaver dog teams have been called in to search the rubble.
Officials are telling people affected by the fires to not return to their neighborhoods just yet.
“There are still active fires that are burning within the Palisades area, making it extremely, extremely dangerous for the public,” Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said. “There’s no power, there’s no water, there’s broken gas lines, and we have unstable structures.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said during a news conference on Monday morning that crews are also searching for remains in the rubble left behind. The areas may also be considered a crime scene, he added.
“It is a very grim task, and unfortunately, every day we’re doing this, we’re running across the remains of individual community members,” Luna said, according to CNN.
The ash that is blanketing the area also poses its own danger of chemicals such as lead, arsenic and asbestos, the AP reported.
So far the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst have already burned 62 square miles, the AP reported. The economic loss has been estimated of between $250 billion and $275 billion.
No official cause has been determined for any of the fires.
Here are the fires by the numbers, according to CNN.
California wildfires PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: Araxy Manookian receives a hug in front of her home which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 11, 2025 in Pasadena, California. She has lived there since 1997. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are burning across Los Angeles County. Reportedly at least 10 people have died with over 180,000 people having been under evacuation orders. Over 9,000 structures have been damaged or burned while more than more than 25,000 acres were burning from the fires. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
California wildfires LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: Firefighters pull a hose up a hill as they battle the Palisades Fire on January 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The Palisades fire had grown to over 22,000 acres and has destroyed thousands of homes. The fire is currently 11 percent contained. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
California wildfires LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: A fire fighter from Woodland Hills searches for hotspots in a burned home at Pacific Coast Highway on January 12, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are still burning across Los Angeles County while some containment has been achieved. At least 16 people have died and over 100,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
California wildfires LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: Fire fighters from Woodland Hills searches for hotspots in a burned home at Pacific Coast Highway on January 12, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are still burning across Los Angeles County while some containment has been achieved. At least 16 people have died and over 100,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
California wildfires PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: A person walks past the remains of senior living facility which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 11, 2025 in Pasadena, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are burning across Los Angeles County. Reportedly at least 10 people have died with over 180,000 people having been under evacuation orders. Over 9,000 structures have been damaged or burned while more than more than 25,000 acres were burning from the fires. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
California wildfires LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: A car and homes burned by the Palisades Fire are seen on January 12, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are still burning across Los Angeles County while some containment has been achieved. At least 16 people have died and over 100,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
California wildfires PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: Congregants search through the remains of Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, which served Pasadena for over 100 years and was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 11, 2025 in Pasadena, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are burning across Los Angeles County. Reportedly at least 10 people have died with over 180,000 people having been under evacuation orders. Over 9,000 structures have been damaged or burned while more than more than 25,000 acres were burning from the fires. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
California wildfires PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: Congregants walk through the remains Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 11, 2025 in Pasadena, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are burning across Los Angeles County. Reportedly at least 10 people have died with over 180,000 people having been under evacuation orders. Over 9,000 structures have been damaged or burned while more than more than 25,000 acres were burning from the fires. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
California wildfires PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: Congregants search through the remains of Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, which served Pasadena for over 100 years and was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 11, 2025 in Pasadena, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are burning across Los Angeles County. Reportedly at least 10 people have died with over 180,000 people having been under evacuation orders. Over 9,000 structures have been damaged or burned while more than more than 25,000 acres were burning from the fires. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
California wildfires PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: Araxy Manookian stands in front of her home which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 11, 2025 in Pasadena, California. She has lived there since 1997. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are burning across Los Angeles County. Reportedly at least 10 people have died with over 180,000 people having been under evacuation orders. Over 9,000 structures have been damaged or burned while more than more than 25,000 acres were burning from the fires. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
California wildfires LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: An FBI agent investigates illegal drone activity around the Palisades Fire area on January 12, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are still burning across Los Angeles County while some containment has been achieved. At least 16 people have died and over 100,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
California wildfires PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11: Congregants search through the remains of Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center, which served Pasadena for over 100 years and was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 11, 2025 in Pasadena, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are burning across Los Angeles County. Reportedly at least 10 people have died with over 180,000 people having been under evacuation orders. Over 9,000 structures have been damaged or burned while more than more than 25,000 acres were burning from the fires. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
California wildfires LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: Fire fighters spray water and soap to eliminate hotspots in a wooden wall next to the Getty Vllage Museum on January 12, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are still burning across Los Angeles County while some containment has been achieved. At least 16 people have died and over 100,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
California wildfires LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 11 : A National Guard officer closes a street enforcing a curfew in evacuation order zones and evacuation warning zones from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM as wildfires cause damage and loss through LA region on January 11, 2025 in Santa Monica, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are burning across Los Angeles County. Reportedly at least 10 people have died with over 180,000 people having been under evacuation orders. Over 9,000 structures have been damaged or burned while more than more than 25,000 acres were burning from the fires. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
California wildfires LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: A Mercedes-Benz and homes burned by the Palisades Fire on January 12, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are still burning across Los Angeles County while some containment has been achieved. At least 16 people have died and over 100,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
California wildfires LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: An FBI agent investigates illegal drone activity around the Palisades Fire area on January 12, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Multiple wildfires fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds are still burning across Los Angeles County while some containment has been achieved. At least 16 people have died and over 100,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
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