Los Angeles to see stronger winds as fires continue to burn

Los Angeles residents are bracing for further damage as forecasts show the winds fueling the fires could intensify again.

Three fires are still burning. The largest of them, the Palisades Fire, has burned more than 23,000 acres and was still 14% contained as of Monday night.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said winds are expected to peak on Tuesday and “emergency preparations” are being made.

At least 24 people died in the fires in the Eaton and Palisade Fire Districts, and 23 others are missing.

On Monday, authorities also announced nine arrests for robbery and one for arson.

At a news conference, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman showed some videos of the robbery and outlined the maximum penalties if the defendants were convicted.

Suspects could face life in prison in some cases under California's “three strikes” law, under which felons can be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after their third conviction.

An arson suspect was arrested in Azusa, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of downtown Los Angeles.

The arson incident was not linked to any major fires but was allegedly set at a local park.

Law enforcement also warned about price gouging, online scams and drones that could interfere with firefighting aircraft.

They said multiple ongoing investigations mean more charges may be filed.

Blake Zhou, assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department's Office of Special Operations, issued a stern warning to looters: “You're not going to get away with it.”

Also on Monday, two lawsuits were filed against Southern California Edison (SCE) by property owners who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire.

They claim the company failed to cut power to its electrical equipment despite high wind warnings.

A company spokesman said SCE has not received the complaint but will review it once received.

“The cause of the fire remains under investigation,” the spokesman said.

The Eaton Fire, the second largest in a series of fires that broke out across the city last week, has burned more than 14,000 acres and is 33% contained, authorities said.

Cal Fire Deputy Chief Jim Hudson said the fire in the Palisades on Monday showed “very little fire growth.”

The BBC Meteorological Center said Santa Ana winds blowing from the east or northeast could reach gusts of 70 miles per hour (112 kilometers per hour) on Tuesday, potentially igniting further fires.

Weather officials said winds were expected to weaken after Wednesday, giving firefighters an opportunity to further control the blaze.

A curfew remains in effect in evacuation areas from 18:00 to 06:00 local time.

Newly elected California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff told the BBC he hoped the incoming Trump administration would move quickly to provide disaster relief.

Asked whether wildfires were becoming increasingly politicized, Schiff said: “From the moment the fires started, there were people who did.”

“With no help available right now, let's focus on putting out these fires and getting people the help they need.”

President-elect Donald Trump reportedly plans to visit the region in the coming days.

Federal lawmakers are scheduled to meet Tuesday morning to discuss disaster relief aid to the state.

President Joe Biden said he has directed hundreds of federal personnel, air and ground support personnel to California and that his team will “respond quickly” to any requests for more help.

“Our hearts aches for the 24 innocent souls we lost,” he said.

Meanwhile, local residents joined the rescue effort as city fire crews continued to work to contain the blaze.

Actor and comedian Will Arnett told the BBC he had friends who had lost their homes.

“I think everyone should do what they can to help,” said Arnett, who is helping distribute water to people affected by the fires.

“It’s great to see people coming together and volunteering in their own way.”

Fardad Khayami, a 24-year-old restaurateur in Pacific Palisades, is serving hundreds of meals to people affected by the fires.

He told BBC News: “If you look outside, we appear to be an ordinary city. But if you drive five minutes west, it's a different world.”

He hopes to provide 500 meals a day to locals “for as long as they need it”.

Altadena resident Michael Stock lost his home and said “the rent has gone up a lot.”

“I was a poor kid who grew up renting, so it was kind of depressing to go back to renting,” he said.

He said his family wonders if they will be able to rebuild on the land where their home once stood.

“We don't know if it's going to be safe,” he told the BBC.

While many expensive mansions were destroyed in the fire, Pete Brown, a spokesman for the local council member in Pacific Palisades, said many of the owners purchased the homes about 50 years ago, some for around $25,000 (£20,500). ).

Those elderly homeowners now have nothing, he said.

“Their wealth was in that house,” Mr Brown said.

Helena Humphry, Christal Hayes, Regan Morris, Gabriela Pomeroy and John Saad Additional reporting by John Sudworth in Los Angeles.