LA braces for high winds as fires continue to burn

Los Angeles residents are bracing for more destruction as weather forecasts indicate the flames could flare up again.

There is fire at three places. The largest, the Palisades Fire, has burned more than 23,000 acres and is 14% contained as of Monday evening.

LA Mayor Karen Bass said “immediate preparations” are being made ahead of hurricane-force winds predicted to peak on Tuesday.

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

On Monday, authorities also announced that nine people were arrested for looting and one for arson.

At a press conference, L.A. District Attorney Nathan Hochman showed videos of some of the robberies and outlined the maximum punishment the accused could face if convicted.

In some cases, suspects could face life in prison under California’s “Three Strikes” law – under which repeat offenders can face up to 25 years in prison for a third conviction.

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

The arson is not linked to any larger fire but was reportedly started in a local park.

Law enforcement also warned against price gouging, Internet scams and flying drones that could interfere with firefighting aircraft.

He said multiple ongoing investigations mean more charges could be filed.

Blake Chow, assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Office of Special Operations, issued a stern warning to the robbers: “You won’t get away with this.”

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

He alleged that the company failed to de-energize its electrical equipment despite warnings of high winds.

A company spokesperson said the complaint has not yet been submitted to SCE but it will review it once it receives it.

“Investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing,” the spokesperson said.

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

CalFire Deputy Chief Jim Hudson said there was “very little growth” from the Palisades fire on Monday.

The BBC Weather Center says Santa Ana winds – blowing from the east or north-east – could reach 70 mph (112 km/h) on Tuesday, potentially fanning the fires.

Weather officials say light winds are expected later Wednesday, which will give firefighters an opportunity to get the blaze under control.

A curfew is in place in the evacuation zones between 18:00 and 06:00 local time.

California’s Democratic senator-elect Adam Schiff told the BBC he hopes the incoming Trump administration will move quickly to provide disaster relief.

Asked whether wildfires have become increasingly politicized, Schiff said: “People have been doing that since the fires started.”

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

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

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

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

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

Meanwhile, as city fire brigades are trying to control the fire, local residents have joined the relief efforts.

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

“I think everyone should help in whatever capacity they can,” said Arnett, who was helping distribute water to people affected by the fires.

“It’s nice to see people coming together and volunteering.”

Fardad Khayami, a 24-year-old restaurateur in Pacific Palisades, was delivering hundreds of meals to people affected by the fire.

He told BBC Newsday: “If you look from the outside, it looks like it’s a normal city where we are. But if you drive five minutes to the west, it feels like a different world. “

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

“Rents have gone up a lot,” said Michael Stork, an Altadena resident who lost his family home.

“I grew up as a poor kid who lived on rent, so it’s a little tough to go back to renting,” he said.

His family wonders whether they will ever be able to rebuild on the land where their home used to stand, he said.

“We don’t know if it will ever be safe,” he told the BBC.

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

He said that those elderly homeowners now have nothing left.

“His property was in that house,” Mr Brown said.

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