24 Dead and 16 Missing as Fires Rage in Los Angeles Area

Los Angeles: The wildfires in the area have been devastating. As of late Sunday, 24 people have died, and 16 are still missing. The National Weather Service is warning of more strong winds starting early Tuesday, which could make things worse.

They’re predicting winds of up to 40 mph, with gusts hitting 70 mph in the mountains. Tuesday is expected to be the most dangerous day, according to fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns.

Out of the 24 fatalities, 16 were linked to the Eaton Fire, while eight were from the Palisades Fire. Sheriff Robert Luna mentioned that 12 people are missing in the Eaton Fire zone and four in the Palisades area. Sadly, the death toll may rise.

Firefighters are gearing up for the next wave of challenges. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said they’ve brought in 70 extra water trucks to help combat the flames. They’ve also been dropping fire retardant in many areas at risk.

The fires have already burned over 62 square miles, which is larger than San Francisco. Thankfully, firefighters managed to get some containment over the weekend, reaching 27% for the Eaton Fire and 13% for the Palisades Fire.

A virtual community meeting about the Eaton Fire is scheduled for 4 p.m. Pacific time on Monday. CalFire has also warned about false information spreading on social media regarding recovery efforts. They’re urging people to check official sources for accurate information.

CalFire specifically mentioned a misleading Facebook post claiming that people could come to California to help with clean-up efforts. They clarified that this is not true and asked folks not to call in with questions about it.