California wildfires highlights: Santa Ana winds pick up speed; New fire erupts in Ventura County

Santa Ana winds have picked up speed with the possibility of gusts hitting 75 mph (120 kph) early Tuesday, said David Roth, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Firefighters across Los Angeles braced for further fires amid the high winds.

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass on Monday issued an executive order to speed up the rebuilding efforts as the California wildfires are leaving a massive trail of destruction in the city.

“This unprecedented natural disaster warrants an unprecedented response that will expedite the rebuilding of homes, businesses and communities,” the statement from the mayor's office was cited by CNN.

The Los Angeles Department of water and power could cut power in the coming days as the strong 'Santa Ana' winds are likely to arrive in the city on Tuesday, raising the risk of more fires.

“Los Angeles is in active fire response and local fire authorities may ask LADWP to de-energize power lines as a preventative measure, to help prevent wildfires and protect communities,” the department said on its website.

A new blaze, by the name of 'Auto Fire', has erupted in Ventura County, which is part of an area under the highest fire threat as wind speeds begin to rise across Los Angeles.

In a social media post, the Ventura County Fire department said, "The fire is currently at 5 acres in medium fuels with a moderate rate of spread. Approximately 75 firefighters are on scene working to stop forward spread of the fire."

The wildfires raging across Los Angeles could cause losses of as much as $30 billion for the insurance industry, Bloomberg reported.

The new estimates from Wells Fargo & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts exceeded last week's highest prediction from JPMorgan Chase & Co. that the fires stood to cost insurers roughly $20 billion.

The Los Angeles National Weather Service's most serious advisory, 'Particularly Dangerous Situation', is a recent phenomenon, a CNN report said.

This red flag warning began in 2020 and is used as a special and rare type of alert to distinguish the most extreme areas of red flag warnings to the public as well first responders.

These warnings have a combination of highest wind gusts and dry air.

Beyoncé has postponed her January 14 announcement to later date amid the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles.

In a post on Instagram, she wrote, "I continue to pray for healing and rebuilding for the families suffering from trauma and loss. We are so blessed to have brave first responders who continue to work tirelessly to protect the Los Angeles community."

She also asked people to visit her 'BeyGood' platform to join the efforts in supporting those affected.

The raging wildfires across Los Angeles have left behind a massive trail of destruction and despair, with firefighters still battling to contain the blazes.

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, while addressing a news conference, said that “there will be zero-tolerance for looting during this crisis”.

“Local officials stand ready to prosecute anyone attempting to enter houses or properties,” she added.

Ahead of the forecasted return of the Santa Ana winds, additional water tankers and firefighters arrived in Los Angeles.

LA mayor Karen Bass earlier showed confidence that the region was ready to face the new threat with additional firefighters brought in from across the US, as well as Canada and Mexico.

“We’re absolutely better prepared,” said LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.

The Los Angeles National Weather Service has issued an "Extreme Fire Danger" ahead of the likely return of the dangerous Santa Ana winds.

Sharing a map image with the warning, it showed areas circled with purple markers to highlight red flag or PDS shaded regions.

It asked residents to note that, "If you cannot tell whether your specific community inside a Red Flag or PDS shaded area or not, assume that it is. The fire risk areas do not start/end as sharply as our geographic boundaries do. Stay safe neighbors."

Following are the schools that have reported closures due to the wildfires in Los Angeles:

• La Canada Unified School District
• Canyon Charter Elementary
• Kenter Canyon Charter Elementary
• Palisades Charter Elementary
• Marquez Charter Elementary
• Topanga Charter Elementary
• Lanai Road Elementary
• Paul Revere Middle School
• Pasadena Unified School District
• Roosevelt Elementary, Santa Monica

California Governor Gavin Newsom has sought $2.5 billion funding to assist emergency responders and help to fund vast recovery plans for the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles.

The proposal includes $1 billion in emergency aid and another $1.5 billion for recovery and wildfire preparedness.

“California is organizing a Marshall Plan to help Los Angeles rebuild faster and stronger – including billions in new and accelerated state funding so we can move faster to deliver for the thousands who’ve lost their homes and livelihoods in these firestorms,” Newsom said in a statement.

“To the people of Los Angeles: We have your back," he added.

As firefighters continue to battle the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles, city fire chief Kristin Crowley said that the set up is as bad as it gets, adding that "we are not in the clear".

Officials said the state was pre-positioning firefighting crews in vulnerable areas, not just in Los Angeles but also in other Southern California counties that were also under elevated fire danger.

Fire agencies have said that they are using pink flame retardants, suppressants mostly used to fight forest fires, to slow down the wildfires raging through Los Angeles.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said that while fire suppressants can be every effective, they also have limitations. Strong winds can make it too dangerous to fly at the low altitudes needed for drops and can dissipate the retardant before it hits the ground.

Read more on pink flame retardants

California Governor Gavin Newsom accused Tesla CEO Elon Musk of spreading "lies" about the state's response to the raging wildfires in Los Angeles.

Musk had blamed the huge loss of homes in LA on "bad governance at a state and local level that resulted in a shortage of water".

Newsom responded to the tech billionaire and said, "(Musk) is exposed by firefighters for his own lies".

The City of Los Angeles, in a press release, announced that it is handing out free N95 masks at locations across the city, including at libraries and recreation centres, to help residents battle the poor air quality.

“The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) is recommending that Angelenos wear well-fitting, medical grade masks while outside when air quality is poor, or if you smell smoke or see ash,” the release read.

Outgoing president Joe Biden has announced $770 dollar one-time payments to the victims of the California wildfires.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was sued on Monday over claims that it failed to manage proper water supplies to firefighters battling the deadly Palisades Fire, Reuters reported citing a court filing.

The law, filed on behalf of residents and others affected by the blaze, said that the utility department should have maintained water in a nearby reservoir, which was dry when the fire erupted last Tuesday.

Owing to the ongoing wildfires across Los Angeles, the Oscar nominations have been delayed by almost a week.

The nominations will now be announced on January 3, said the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The 97th Oscars will take place at the Dolby Theatre on March 2 and will be broadcasted live on ABC beginning 7 pm ET. It will also be livestreamed on Hulu.

US-President elect Donald Trump, set for his January 20 inauguration, said that he is putting back his developer's cap, eyeing the wildfire-torn Los Angeles city.

The former real-estate developer, cited by AP from an interview with Newsmax, said the areas burned by the wildfires looked like they were hit by a "massive bomb".

"We are going to do things with Los Angeles," he said without elaborating any further.

Outgoing president Joe Biden, while getting a brief about the federal response to the raging wildfires across Southern California, said that while the government is covering most costs connection to the blazes in LA for the next 180 days, it will take tens of billions of dollars to get the city fully back up and running.

And hence, he said, Congress "needs to step up" and provide funding.

He also expressed grief over the loss of 24 lives in the wildfires and announced additional disaster assistance for California, covering costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures.

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a press conference that three people have been arrested for two drone usages.

Meanwhile, the FBI was also investigating to identify the operator of the drone that collided and damaged a firefighting plane over the Palisades Fire last Thursday.

Akil Davis, assistant director-in-chare of the FBI's LA office, said "We are coming across probably 20 incursions a day."

Noting that both the agency and fire department are catching such incidents every day, Davis added, “That’s why we continue to stress to the public: Stop flying your drones over these fires,” Davis said.

LA fire department chief Kristin Crowley said that residents who had to flee their homes due to the wildfires across California will be able to return home but only when it is safe.

“I will tell you and guarantee you that when it is safe to do so, we will allow the population and repopulation in the community to come back in — that is top of mind. But just as important top of mind is the safety of those individuals as well,” she was quoted as saying by CNN.

“It will not be days. We’ll do it as quickly as we can, but it has to be safe," she added.

Officials have said that a task force-led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the reason behind the deadly Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, CNN reported.

LA police chief Jim McDonnell told the media outlet that more details won't be provided till the probe is completed, adding that the inquiry was not limited to the Palisades Fire.