Fire crews report significant gains against Los Angeles wildfires as another bout of winds hits

Firefighters report significant progress in battling the massive wildfires around Los Angeles as the latest round of strong winds swept through Southern California. While winds picked up again early Wednesday, with gusts in the mountains reaching 80 kilometers per hour, winds were relatively light in many areas later in the morning, according to the US National Weather Service.

The battle against the Eaton Fire north of Los Angeles is nearly half complete, while nearly 20 percent of containment lines have been established around the Palisades Fire. Both fires broke out on January 7, amid conditions similar to those expected on Wednesday, with strong winds pushing flames at uncontrollable speeds and carrying embers kilometers away.

A red flag warning remains in effect from the central California coast to the Mexican border, indicating that high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds are expected. Weather conditions are expected to improve in the coming days, which will help fire crews make greater progress and allow residents to return to their homes. The crisis has already resulted in at least 25 deaths and the destruction of thousands of homes.

With the region experiencing little to no rain for over eight months and abundant vegetation, more than a dozen wildfires have occurred this year, most of them in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The four largest fires around Los Angeles have already burned over 163 square kilometers of land, roughly twice the size of the Hobart Central Business District.

Authorities have arrested several people in connection with arson since the wildfires broke out last week. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonald stated that one suspect admitted to setting fire to trees “because he liked the smell of burning leaves.” Another suspect stated that “she liked creating chaos and destruction.” Authorities have not yet determined the cause of any major fires, which are on track to become one of the costliest fire disasters in US history.

Los Angeles officials are facing more questions about the city's response after being criticized for dry fire hydrants during the disaster. Internal records obtained by the Los Angeles Times and interviews with fire commanders reveal that fire officials did not double the number of firefighters on duty when the winds picked up on Tuesday, and only 5 out of more than 40 fire trucks were deployed. The fire department also did not recall off-duty firefighters before the Palisades fire broke out.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley defended the decision at a news conference. “I can tell you that we did everything we could to mobilize the resources that we had available,” she said. Crowley insisted that despite “limited capacity” within the department, staff were able to respond quickly by calling for assistance from other agencies and seeking help from off-duty firefighters.

Thousands of Los Angeles residents have been forced to evacuate their homes due to the raging wildfires. Authorities have pledged to do everything possible to assist with recovery and rebuilding efforts, but Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged that much of the loss is irreplaceable. “You’ve lost memories, you’ve lost families,” she said. “All the experiences that happened there are gone, and gone unexpectedly, and gone quickly.” Earlier this week, Ms. Bass issued an executive order to cut red tape, allowing people to live in tiny homes and trailers while rebuilding their homes.