Firefighters in Los Angeles County are preparing for another round of strong winds as they continue to battle wildfires.

The Palisades fire remains the worst. It's been burning for a week. On Monday, another fire broke out in neighboring Ventura County, prompting more evacuation orders.

The Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires burned a total area of ​​about 16,425 hectares (40,588 acres), an area larger than Paris.

Here's what we know:

What's the latest situation on the ground?

Death toll and missing persons

• At least 25 people have died as a result of wildfires, including eight in the Palisades Fire and 17 in the Eaton Fire.
• According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), the Eaton Fire is currently the most destructive and deadliest wildfire in Southern California history, with the Palisades Fire ranking second.
• The Cedar Fire in October 2003 previously set records as the region's deadliest and most destructive wildfire, destroying nearly 2,820 structures and killing 15 people in San Diego County.

Active fire:

Three major wildfires are still burning in Los Angeles:

• Palisades FireThe fire in the city's western suburbs has burned 9,596 hectares (23,713 acres) and is 17% contained.
• Eaton FireLocated in the foothills east of the city, it covers 5,712 hectares (14,117 acres) and has a 35% containment rate.

• Hurst Fire 323 hectares (799 acres) have been burned and are 97% contained.
• In Ventura County, car wildfireSince January 13, the area has expanded to 24 hectares (61 acres, up from 5 acres on Tuesday), with 47% now under control.

Damage and Evacuation:

• About 150,000 Los Angeles County residents remain under evacuation orders, with more than 700 seeking shelter at nine facilities.

What to expect on Wednesday?

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles has issued a red flag warning for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, effective from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. (11:00-23:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

The agency warned on social media that stronger winds could create extreme fire weather conditions, urging residents to remain vigilant about the potential for fires to spread quickly.

"Key message: We are not out of the woods yet," the post read. "The winds aren't as severe today but there could be another wave tonight and tomorrow."

As of Wednesday, a red flag warning remained in place for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties and parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, according to the agency's website.

What not to do during a red flag warning?

According to authorities, the warning means warm temperatures, very low humidity and strong winds are expected to increase fire danger, so the following recommendations are in place:

• If burning is not prohibited in a particular area, all burning barrels must be covered with a weighted metal cover.
• Avoid throwing cigarettes or matches out of a moving vehicle as they may ignite dry grass on the roadside and start wildfires.
• Extinguish all outdoor fires properly and avoid throwing live charcoal on the ground.
• Don't leave fire unattended. Sparks or embers may blow into leaves or grass, igniting a fire that can spread quickly.

What do we know about the victims?

Officials said it could take weeks to identify victims because traditional methods such as fingerprinting and visual identification may not be feasible.

Here's what we know so far about the circumstances of the death, based on information provided by family members and international media.

Anthony Mitchell and his son Justin

Amputee Anthony Mitchell, 68, and his son Justin, who has cerebral palsy, were waiting for an ambulance to evacuate them.

"They didn't make it," said Hajime White, Mitchell's daughter.

She shared that authorities informed the family that Mitchell was found at her son's bedside in Altadena. According to the Washington Post, Mitchell's family believes Mitchell was trying to save his son, who was in his 30s.

"He wouldn't leave his son alone. No matter what," said White, Justin's stepsister who lives in Warren, Arkansas, adding that her father called her Wednesday morning to say they had to evacuate the approaching flames. "Then he said, 'I have to go — the yard is on fire,'" she recalled on Jan. 9.

"I have to go - there's a fire in the yard."

Anthony Mitchell Sr.'s last words were his daughters, who lived in Warren, Arkansas. He died at the bedside of his son, who had cerebral palsy, while waiting to be evacuated from the Los Angeles fire.

rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/cVs00gx4E1

— Arkansas Worker (@ArkansasWorker) January 13, 2025

Victor Shaw

Victor Shaw, 66, who stayed behind to try to put out the Eaton fire, was found holding a garden hose after the blaze ripped through his neighborhood.

He was trying to save the home where his family had lived for nearly 55 years, news outlet KTLA reported. His sister, Shari Shaw, told KTLA she tried to get her brother to evacuate with her.

"When I went back and called his name, he didn't respond and I had to get out because the embers were so big and flying like a storm — I had to save myself," Sally told KTLA. "I looked back and the house was starting to catch fire and I had to leave."

A family friend, Al Tanner, told the outlet that Victor's charred body was found on the side of the road with a hose the next morning. "It looked like he was trying to save the home that his parents had owned for nearly 55 years," Tanner said.

Victor Shaw, one of those killed in the Eaton Fire, died in a heroic attempt to defend his home in Altadena, his sister told ABC News.

Shaw's body was found outside the home with a garden hose in his hand.

Read more: pic.twitter.com/FOcjjp3tqZ

— ABC News (@ABC) January 10, 2025

Rodney Nicholson

Altadena resident Rodney Nickerson, 82, felt he could wait at home, so he stayed home and died in his bed, his daughter Kimiko said.

"He was gathering some stuff, packing up his car, and he said he was going to collect his stuff, but he said he was going to stay here as well... He said he felt like this would all blow over and he would be here. ," she said.

Kimiko said her father bought the house in 1968 with a $5 down payment and raised his family there.

Erin Kelly

When the Eaton Fire began to spread Tuesday night, 83-year-old Erliene Kelley didn't want to evacuate because no previous fire had reached her home in Altadena.

"She was determined to stay," her granddaughter Brianna Navarro told the Los Angeles Times. "My husband kept asking her if she was sure and if she didn't want to come with us."

After moving from Monmouth, Illinois, Kelly and her late husband, Howard, bought a home in the late 1960s and raised their two children there. Navarro said she, her husband and their two children moved in with their grandmother after her grandfather died. Her father, who lived a few miles away, also tried to get her grandmother to leave, but she refused.

Navarro, her family and her father were ordered to evacuate the area. She said she is in constant contact with her grandmother via text messages.

Why are some places in California now pink?

Recently, images showed aerial tankers releasing bright red and pink powder over the Los Angeles suburbs.

The flame-retardant substance has become a common sight in the area.

The Forest Service has used 13 aircraft to dump extinguishing agents on the Los Angeles fires, which it says help block oxygen from the fires and slow their burning by cooling and covering vegetation and other surfaces.

The bright colors help pilots see where they have dropped retardant to avoid overlap and ensure effective coverage. It also allows ground crews to see the fire retardant line, helping them stay behind the treated area where the fire has been slowed.

Perimeter, a company that supplies flame retardants to the Forest Service and other agencies, said phosphates change the way cellulose breaks down in plants, making them less flammable.

While fire extinguishing agents are generally considered safe for humans, recent research suggests they can be harmful to human health and the environment due to the chemicals they contain.

The Forest Service prohibits the use of aerial suppressants in waterways and habitats of endangered species unless there is a risk to human life or public safety due to potential health effects on fish and wildlife.