Multiple wildfires have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the City of Angels and nearby areas.
Extra firefighters and water tankers have arrived in Los Angeles, as the city braces for more high winds.
The tankers are replenishing water supplies after fire hydrants ran dry last week as the city battled to rein in the flames, with the additional firefighters drawn from across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The infernos have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the City of Angels and nearby areas.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said on Monday that figure was likely to rise, with at least two dozen other people still missing.
Luna went on to say that he understands people were keen to return to their homes but asked them to be patient, adding, “We have people literally looking for the remains of your neighbors.”
In less than a week, an area of more than 62 square miles, roughly three times the size of the island of Manhattan, has been charred by four separate blazes.
As it stands, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena is around one-third contained, while containment on the largest blaze in Pacific Palisades on the coast is only about 17 percent.
During an operational briefing on Tuesday morning involving all departments dealing with the blaze, it was revealed that the Palisades Fire now had a containment line all around its perimeter, thanks to the efforts of some 5,200 personnel.
Monday saw planes douse homes and hillsides around the city with pink fire-retardant chemicals, while crews and fire engines were being placed near areas where the brush was particularly dry.
The Santa Ana winds which contributed to the destruction last week are predicted to pick up again early on Tuesday and continue through midday Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The NWS warned the weather will be “particularly dangerous” on Tuesday, with gusts potentially reaching 65 mph.
The winds are not expected to reach the same hurricane-force strengths as last week, but could ground aircraft involved in the response, according to LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, who said that if winds reach 70 mph, “it’s going to be very difficult to contain that fire.”
By Guy Birchall
