Los Angeles firefighters braced on Tuesday for a new round of intense winds that could fuel two monstrous wildfires that have already killed at least 24 people, levelled entire neighbourhoods and scorched an area the size of Washington, D.C.
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Much of Los Angeles and Ventura County could experience wind gusts of 80 to 110kph (50 to 70mph) from early Tuesday through Wednesday as dry Santa Ana winds picked up after relative calm last week, according to the National Weather Service.
It declared a red flag warning, meaning the situation was dangerous and could ignite new fires while stoking those already burning.
“This set-up is about as bad as it gets,” Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told local residents. “We are not in the clear.”
Highlighting the risks, a small but fast-moving new fire erupted overnight in scrubland in the bed of the Santa Clara River in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles.
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Ground crew and several helicopters were working to contain the so-called Auto Fire, which had razed over 56 acres and was burning near a golf course but not yet threatening homes.