LA braces for stronger winds as fires continue to burn

Residents of Los Angeles are bracing for further destruction as weather reports suggest that the winds that fueled the fires could return.

Three fires continue to burn. The largest, the Palisades Fire, has burned more than 23,000 acres and remained 14% contained as of Monday evening.

LA Mayor Karen Bass said “urgent preparations” are being made for the hurricane, which is expected to hit Tuesday.

At least 24 people have died in the fire and 23 others are missing in the Eaton and Palisades fire area.

On Monday, authorities also announced that nine people had been arrested for robbery and one for arson.

At the press conference, LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman showed videos of the burglary and suggested the maximum sentences if the accused are found guilty.

In some cases, the suspects could face up to life in prison under California’s “three strikes” law — where repeat offenders can be sentenced to 25 years to life after a third conviction.

One suspected arsonist was arrested in the nearby city of Azusa, about 20 miles east of Los Angeles.

The burning was not linked to any major fire but was said to have started in a park.

Police also warned of price gouging, internet fraud, and drones, which could disrupt firefighting aircraft.

They said the ongoing investigation means more charges could be filed.

Blake Chow, assistant chief of the Los Angeles police office for special operations, issued a dire warning to the hijackers: “You will never get over it.”

Also on Monday, two lawsuits were filed against Southern California power company Edison (SCE) and property owners whose homes were damaged in the Eaton fire.

They said the company failed to unload its electrical equipment despite warnings of the storm.

A company spokesman said SCE had not been served with the complaint but would review it once it was received.

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

A separate lawsuit was filed against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) by residents of Pacific Palisades, accusing the utility of failing to provide enough water to fight the fire there.

The complaint, filed by the law firm Robertson & Associates in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that the spilled reservoir should have been preserved.

“The Palisades Fire has been very painful for the victims, who innocently went from homeowners to homeless in a matter of hours,” he lamented, according to Reuters.

The BBC has asked LADWP for comment.

In a statement on his website last weekLADWP said: “The water systems serving the Pacific Palisades area and Los Angeles meet all federal and state regulations for urban development and housing.”

It said it was starting its research on water hardness.

The Eaton fire, the second largest to break out across the city in the past week, has burned more than 14,000 acres, and is 33 percent contained, officials said.

There has been “slight growth” in the Palisades fire on Monday, said Jim Hudson, CalFire’s deputy chief.

The BBC Weather Center said Santa Ana winds – which blow from the east or north-east – could gust up to 70mph (112km/h) on Tuesday, which could fuel other fires.

Weather officials say light winds are expected on Wednesday, giving firefighters a chance to contain the blaze.

A curfew is still in place in the resort between 18:00 and 06:00 local time.

Adam Schiff, the newly elected Democratic senator from California, told the BBC that he hopes the incoming Trump administration will move quickly to provide disaster relief.

When asked if the wildfires have become politically active, Schiff said: “There have been people doing this since the fire started.”

“It’s not helpful right now, let’s just focus on putting the fire out, getting people the help they need.”

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

Federal lawmakers will meet Tuesday morning to discuss disaster relief for the state.

President Joe Biden said he directed hundreds of government workers, pilots and aid workers in California, and his team would “respond quickly” to any request for help.

“Our hearts ache for the 24 innocent lives we have lost,” he said.

In the meantime, while the firemen of the town continue to try to put out the fire, the people of the area joined them in helping the people.

Actor and comedian Will Arnett told the BBC he has friends whose homes have been destroyed.

“I think everyone should help as much as they can,” said Arnett, who was helping distribute water to those affected by the fire.

“It’s great to see people come together and volunteer like they are.”

Fardad Khayami, who owns a 24-year-old restaurant in Pacific Palisades, was donating large amounts of food to those affected by the fire.

He told BBC Newsday: “When you look at it, from the outside, it looks like a normal city where we are. But if you drive five minutes to the west, it looks like another world.”

They hope to provide 500 meals a day to local people “for as long as they need”.

Altadena resident Michael Storc, who lost his family, said “housing costs have skyrocketed.”

“I grew up as a poor child who used to rent, so going back to rent is difficult,” he said.

His family doubts whether they will be able to rebuild on the site where their house once stood, he said.

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

Although many expensive homes were lost in the fire, Pete Brown, a spokesman for a Pacific Palisades council member, said many of the owners bought the homes 50 years ago, some at prices of around $25,000 (£20,500).

He said the elderly homeowners are now left with nothing.

“Their wealth was in the house,” Brown said.

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