Los Angeles braces for return of powerful winds as fires continue to rage

WASHINGTON

Residents across Los Angeles are bracing Monday for what the National Weather Service is warning will be a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" as powerful and dangerous winds are expected to return this week, raising fears for ongoing firefighting efforts after at least 24 people were killed.

Winds are expected to gust up to 70 mph (113 kph) across three areas in Ventura County and northwest Los Angeles County where the Palisades and Hurst Fires have caused widespread devastation. Fears are mounting that the return of the Santa Anas combined with exceptionally low humidity of between 8-15% could imperil progress made on the three major blazes that are continuing to rage in America's second-largest city.

The "Particularly Dangerous Situation" designation is the highest-level fire weather warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). Conditions are expected to set in before dawn Tuesday and run through mid-day Wednesday.

In nearly a week spent trying to contain the infernos, firefighters have made the greatest progress in bring the Hurst Fire, the smallest of the blazes, to heel after it consumed nearly 800 acres in the San Fernando Valley. It is now 89% contained.

Containment has been far more measured on the two largest fires -- the Palisades and Eaton Fires -- which have burned nearly 24,000 and over 14,000 acres respectively. The Palisades Fire is just 14% contained while the Eaton Fire is 33% contained.