LOS ANGELES, Jan. 13 – The death toll from wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County rose to 24 on Sunday, according to the county medical examiner’s office, as officials warned that strong winds forecast for the coming days could exacerbate the crisis.
The Palisades and Eaton fires, which have consumed nearly 40,000 acres combined, are responsible for the fatalities, with eight victims found in the Palisades fire zone and 16 in the Eaton fire zone. Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed another 16 people remain missing, and that number is expected to rise.
Fire crews took advantage of calmer winds over the weekend, containing 11% of the 23,700-acre Palisades fire and 27% of the 14,000-acre Eaton fire in the San Gabriel Mountains. However, shifting winds and prolonged dry conditions could thwart further progress.
“While the winds this week may not be as strong as last week, their long duration combined with low humidity will worsen fire risks,” said Brian Hurley, meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center. Wind gusts of up to 55 mph and critical fire weather conditions prompted a red flag warning through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The combined area burned by the fires is larger than the city limits of San Francisco, affecting over 12,000 structures, including homes, vehicles, and outbuildings. More than 100,000 residents are under evacuation orders, while tens of thousands more have been warned they may need to leave.
The fires also damaged two schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), forcing their closure. Seven of the district’s 1,302 schools will remain shut, while the majority will reopen Monday under modified schedules. LAUSD, the largest school district in California, serves over 600,000 students.
Some wealthy property owners in Southern California have turned to private firefighting services to protect their homes. The trend reflects rising demand for such services as wildfires grow more frequent and destructive.
The origins of the Palisades and Eaton fires remain unclear. Preliminary evidence suggests power lines near the fire zones may have played a role, with the University of California, San Diego’s camera network capturing initial plumes from the Palisades fire on Jan. 7.
Authorities are urging vigilance as they brace for challenging days ahead. “We’ve made progress, but the threat is far from over,” warned Rich Thompson, an incident meteorologist.
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Global Affairs Desk at The Chenab Times covers international developments, global diplomacy, and foreign policy issues through fact-based reporting, explainers, and analytical pieces. The desk focuses on major geopolitical events, diplomatic engagements, and international trends, with an emphasis on verified information, multiple perspectives, and contextual understanding of global affairs.
