Weather remains critical in Southern California. Here's the latest on the LA fires

Destructive wildfires, which have been burning continuously for six days in the Los Angeles area, have caused at least 24 deaths and displaced thousands of residents. Firefighters are working tirelessly to control the remaining three fires before strong winds return, in order to prevent the existing fires from spreading to new areas. There is currently a great deal of information to consider, and questions remain about how the fires started.

The cause of the fires has not yet been determined. Forecasters had warned of extreme high winds in the days before the wildfires broke out. Mountain wind speeds reached up to 160 kilometers per hour. Winter rains, combined with a subsequent long period of dryness and drought, left the hills around Los Angeles covered with an excessive amount of dry vegetation, turning the area into a "tinderbox." Local authorities have announced a large-scale investigation to determine the cause of the fires, with the involvement of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

Sheriff Luna stated, "We will not leave any stone unturned. If this is a criminal act—and I'm not saying it is—if it is, we need to hold the perpetrator or parties accountable." In the mountainous, upscale residential area of Pacific Palisades, home to Hollywood stars including Jamie Lee Curtis and Billy Crystal, officials have pinpointed the origin of the wind-fueled fire to the rear of a home on Piedra Morada Drive, which sits above a dense wooded area (waterway). Although lightning is the most common cause of fires in the United States, investigators quickly ruled out this possibility. There were no reports of lightning in the Palisades area or in the terrain around the Eaton Fire, which began in eastern Los Angeles County and also destroyed hundreds of homes.

The next two most common causes are: arson and fires caused by utility lines. So far, there has been no official indication that either fire was caused by arson, and utility lines have not been identified as the cause either. Terry Prosper, communications director for the California Public Utilities Commission, said via email that utility companies must report any "electrical events that may be associated with wildfires" to the California Public Utilities Commission. The California Public Utilities Commission staff will then conduct an investigation to determine if there were any violations of state law.

According to data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, there are currently three active fires in the Los Angeles area: the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, and the Hurst Fire. These three fires have burned a total of 160 square kilometers, an area larger than San Francisco. The Kenneth Fire, which burned 1,052 hectares in Los Angeles and Ventura, is now completely under control. The Palisades Fire has become the most destructive fire in the city's history, with only 11% contained and 9,572 hectares of land burned. Despite heroic efforts by firefighters, including precision strikes by aerial crews, the Palisades Fire continues to spread, advancing east towards the Getty Art Museum's precious collections and north towards the densely populated San Fernando Valley. The Eaton Fire is 27% contained, and the Hurst Fire is 89% contained.

Officials say the death toll is expected to rise as teams with cadaver dogs conduct systematic grid searches of the razed communities. Authorities have set up a center for people to report missing persons. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office stated that the Palisades Fire in the coastal area caused 8 deaths, and the Eaton Fire in the inland area caused 11 deaths. At least 16 people are missing. Among the deceased was Australian man Rory Sykes, who died in a fire that destroyed his Malibu property where he lived with his mother.

The Pacific Palisades fire, considered the most destructive, has burned nearly 7 hectares in one of the wealthiest areas of Los Angeles, home to numerous celebrities. Many celebrities, including Mel Gibson, Milo Ventimiglia, Miles Teller, and Paris Hilton, have lost their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires. The flames destroyed part of Palisades Charter High School, which has appeared in numerous Hollywood productions, including the 1976 horror film "Carrie," the 2003 remake of "Freaky Friday," and the TV series "Teen Wolf." The Palisades fire also destroyed the historic ranch house owned by Hollywood legend Will Rogers. Multiple buildings at Will Rogers State Historic Park and Topanga State Park were also destroyed. The historic Topanga Ranch Motel, built by William Randolph Hearst in 1929, was also burned. Rogers' ranch was built on land he purchased in the 1920s and included a 31-room ranch house, stables, a golf course, and riding trails. His wife donated it to the California State Parks in 1944.

Firefighters are preparing for stronger Santa Ana desert winds to exacerbate the Los Angeles wildfires. Firefighters have made slow progress in controlling the raging fires that have razed large areas of Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades community, and city residents said on Sunday that they were "very scared" that the forecast strong winds would fan the flames and threaten their homes. While the Santa Ana winds that fueled the flames over the weekend have calmed, the National Weather Service has warned that stronger gusts of up to 110 kilometers per hour could return. Local officials say they expect the strongest winds to arrive on Tuesday. The situation will worsen dramatically, with winds reaching 112 kilometers per hour and accompanied by "extreme fire behavior and life-threatening conditions" starting early Tuesday in a rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS)," said National Weather Service meteorologist Ross Schoenfeld.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said his department has received resources, including a large number of new water trucks and firefighters from afar, and is prepared to respond to the renewed threat. As of Sunday morning, nearly 70,000 customers across California were without power, with more than half of those in Los Angeles County. According to [PowerOutage.us](https://poweroutage.us/), which tracks power outages nationwide, wastewater, water supply, and power infrastructure throughout the region has been severely damaged, officials said.