LOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters reported significant progress Wednesday against the two massive forest fires burning around Los Angeles, while also extinguishing smaller fires set by arsonists in recent days as a final round of windy, flame-fueled weather moved across Southern California.
With winds increasing againmuch of the country’s second most populous metropolitan region was still on alert of new outbreaks and exacerbations of the fires, which have killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
According to the National Weather Service, gusts reached up to 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph) in the mountains, but many areas saw relatively light winds late in the morning. Better conditions are expected in the coming days which will help fire crews make even more progress and allow residents to return to their neighborhoods to begin rebuilding.
Still, firefighters and police faced new challenges. Since the wildfire began last week, authorities have arrested about half a dozen people accused of setting new, small fires that were quickly put out.
One suspect admitted to starting a fire in a tree “because he liked the smell of burning leaves,” Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said. Another said she “liked to cause chaos and destruction,” the chief said Wednesday.
Authorities have not determined the cause of the large fires in what is on track to become the country’s costliest fire disaster.
Officials face questions about response
Los Angeles officials, already criticized for drying hydrants, faced more questions. Fire officials opted not to double the number of firefighters on duty last Tuesday because winds increased, and only five of more than 40 engines were deployed, according to internal records obtained by The Los Angeles Times and interviews with fire commanders.
The department also did not call off-duty firefighters until after the Palisades Fire broke out.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley defended her decisions. “I can tell you and stand before you that we did everything in our power to advance where we could,” he said at a news conference.
Crowley said that despite “limited capacity” within the department, crews were able to respond quickly by calling for help from other agencies and seeking help from off-duty firefighters.
Increased containment of the largest fires
More manageable winds on Tuesday allowed firefighters to make progress on the two most destructive fires. Nearly half of the Eaton Fire, just north of Los Angeles, was contained and one-fifth of the blaze that destroyed much of the coastal Pacific Palisades neighborhood was surrounded.
Both of those broke out on January 7 in conditions similar to those expected on Wednesday, although the winds were stronger last week when they pushed the flames at a remarkable speed and carried embers that light the fire for miles.
The weather service issued red flag warnings, indicating warm temperatures, low humidity and expected strong winds, through Wednesday afternoon from the south central coast to the Mexican border.
Packed and ready to go
Tired and anxious residents They said they were ready to hastily escape in the midst of the threat of intense winds.
Javier Vega, who said he feels like he has been “sleeping with one eye open,” and his girlfriend have planned how to quickly pack up their two cats, eight fish and a leopard gecko if they receive orders to evacuate.
“Usually on any other night, hearing helicopters flying overhead from midnight to 4 in the morning would drive anyone crazy,” Vega said. But thinking they were helping firefighters prevent flames from threatening their neighborhood, he explained, “it was actually comforting for me to go to sleep.”
A long road of reconstruction ahead
Los Angeles officials vowed to do everything they can to help people recover and rebuild. But Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged there is no way to replace much of what has been lost.
“You have lost memories, family. All the experiences that took place there disappeared, and they disappeared unexpectedly, they disappeared quickly,” Bass said.
This week, the mayor issued an executive order to cut through red tape and allow people to live in tiny homes and trailers while they rebuild.
Different types of disaster
Thomas Martin works with Calvary Disaster Relief, a group that responds to disasters around the world. Most often, it appears after floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, helping people repair their roofs and rip out soggy carpets.
“This is different,” he said. “This is total devastation. “There’s not much we can do other than pray for people.”
Wildfires increase in Los Angeles
Almost no rain in more than eight months, the brush filled region It has had more than a dozen wildfires this year, mostly in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
The four largest have burned more than 163 square kilometers (63 square miles), about three times the size of Manhattan.
Searching for victims
Nearly 30 people were still missing, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday.
Officers have searched more than 5,500 properties for victims of the Eaton Fire and expected to end up in that area Thursday, he said.
One of the victims of the Eaton fire, Dalyce Curry, 95 years oldShe loved wearing long hair and makeup, her family said. He rubbed shoulders with stars of old Hollywood, appearing as an extra with Diana Ross in “Lady Sings the Blues” and in 1956’s “The Ten Commandments.”
The entertainment community responds
The Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on February 2 and will focus on helping the city’s recovery.
“In difficult times, music has the power to heal, comfort and unite like nothing else,” said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and Tammy Hurt, president of the board of directors, in a letter sent to members of the academy that was obtained by The Associated Press.
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This story has been updated to correct the date of the Grammy Awards ceremony to February 2, not Sunday.
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Watson reported from San Diego. Associated Press writers Lindsey Bahr in Los Angeles, John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, Mark Thiessen in Anchorage, Alaska, Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, Hallie Golden in Seattle and Julie Walker in New York contributed.
Jaimie Ding, Christopher Weber and Julie Watson, Associated Press