LA braces for more strong winds as officials 'better prepared' for wildfires
More schools are closed and residents in at-risk areas are being told to prepare for the worst, as ITV News Correspondent Romilly Weeks reports
Hundreds more firefighters and equipment has arrived in Los Angeles ahead of fierce winds that are forecast to return, threatening to trigger new wildfires and worsen the ongoing blazes.
Despite the threat of high winds, the National Weather Service said gales could remain lighter than first feared on Tuesday.
The largest blaze in Pacific Palisades has burned more than 23,000 acres and is 14% contained, while the Eaton Fire near Pasadena has burned over 14,000 acres and is roughly one-third contained.
Both blazes are among the five most destructive fires the state of California has seen since records began in 1932, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
At least 24 people have been killed and around two dozen remain missing, with Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna warning that the death toll is likely to rise.
More than 12,000 homes, cars and other structures have been destroyed in the fires that began a week ago.
Events and award ceremonies, including the Oscar nominations and Meghan Markle's new Netflix series, have been postponed because of the wildfires.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials - who have faced criticism over their initial response to the fires - expressed confidence on Monday that the region was ready to face the new threat with additional firefighters brought in from around the US, as well as Canada and Mexico.
"We're absolutely better prepared," LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said when asked what will be different from a week ago.
Winds began gusting in the mountains surrounding Los Angeles early on Tuesday and were forecast to continue through midday Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
They are not expected to reach hurricane-force like last week, but they could ground firefighting aircraft, Marrone said, warning if winds reach 70 mph (112 kph), "it's going to be very difficult to contain that fire".
Planes doused homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-retardant chemicals, while crews and fire engines were placed near particularly vulnerable spots with dry brush.
Dozens of water trucks were brought in to replenish supplies after hydrants ran dry last week when the two largest fires erupted.
A large part of Southern California around Los Angeles will continue to be under an extreme fire danger warning throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, including densely populated Thousand Oaks, Northridge and Simi Valley.
In less than a week, four fires around the nation's second-biggest city have scorched more than 62 square miles (160 square kilometres), roughly three times the size of Manhattan.
Fire officials advised residents in high-risk areas to just leave home - and not wait for formal evacuation orders - if they sense danger.
LA city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley urged people to stay away from burned neighbourhoods filled with broken gas lines and unstable buildings.
Just under 100,000 in Los Angeles County remained under evacuation orders, half the number from last week.
Beyoncé, Disney and other celebrities and entertainment organisations have pledged millions to help those who have been displaced or lost their homes.
Other stars - and ordinary people - have left large donations of clothing and other items along street corners in around the city.
Early estimates suggest the fires could be the nation’s costliest disaster ever, topping $250 billion (£204 billion), according to AccuWeather.
The reconstruction cost for commercial and residential properties inside areas with active fires could be $14.8 billion (£12.1 billion), according to real estate data tracker CoreLogic.
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