LA fires: Powerful winds threaten to spread deadly Pacific Palisades blaze

At least 24 people have been killed, 150,000 displaced and more than 12,000 structures destroyed, state officials say

The Palisades Fire has destroyed thousands of homes in California. AFP

A plane drops fire retardant on the Eaton Fire, near Altadena, California. Bloomberg

US President Joe Biden discusses the federal response to the wildfires with senior officials. AP

People who fled the Eaton Fire gather at a donation centre in Santa Anita Park, California. AFP

Mexican military personnel have joined the operation to tackle the Palisades Fire. Reuters

A firefighter extinguishes the fire as the Palisades Fire, one of several simultaneous blazes that have ripped across Los Angeles County, burns in Mandeville Canyon, a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, U. S. , January 12, 2025. REUTERS / Ringo Chiu TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A helicopter drops water on hotspots in the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California. Bloomberg

A search team works at a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena. AP

An aerial image shows people affected by the wildfires gathering at a donation centre, at the Santa Anita Park race track in Arcadia. Reuters

Pasadena Park Healthcare and Wellness Center chief Amy Johnson, left, hugs Rhea Bartolome, vice president of operations, outside their centre. AP

Water is dropped by helicopter on the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles. AP Photo

Burnt homes smoulder after the Palisades fire in the coastal community of Malibu in Los Angeles county. AFP

Resident Luke Dexter sifts through the remains of his family's fire-ravaged beachfront property in the aftermath of the Palisades fire. AP Photo

An aerial view shows the extent of the damage done to the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Smoke from the Palisades wildfires rises from the hills over Los Angeles on January 10. EPA

US officials warned “dangerous and strong” winds were set to push deadly wildfires further through residential areas in Los Angeles on Sunday as firefighters struggled to make progress against the flames.

Six blazes that have ripped across the second-largest US city since Tuesday have so far killed at least 24 people, displaced 150,000 and destroyed more than 12,000 structures, according to state officials.

Despite massive efforts, including aerial water-bombing, the Palisades Fire continued to grow, spreading east towards the priceless collections of the Getty Centre art museum and north to the densely populated San Fernando Valley.

“The winds are potentially getting dangerous and strong again,” Deanne Criswell, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told CNN. “The biggest thing that people need to know is that this is still dangerous.”

The flames have reduced whole neighbourhoods to smouldering ruins, destroying the homes of celebrities and ordinary citizens.

President-elect Donald Trump criticised California officials for their handling of the crisis.

“The fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place … they just can't put out the fires. What's wrong with them?” Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Amid looting incidents and an enforced night-time curfew, police and the National Guard established checkpoints to restrict access to disaster-stricken areas. Two people were arrested near Vice President Kamala Harris's residence in Brentwood for curfew breaches after reports of a burglary.

The National Weather Service has warned that while the Santa Ana winds, which have intensified the fires, showed some respite over the weekend, they are expected to strengthen early next week with gusts that could reach 110kph. Local officials anticipate the strongest wind on Tuesday.

“These winds, combined with dry air and dry vegetation, will keep the fire weather threat in the area,” the National Weather Service said. Conditions were expected to moderate by Thursday.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said he expected the death toll to rise.

“I've got search and rescue teams out. We've got cadaver dogs out and there's likely to be a lot more,” he told NBC.

Mr Newsom said the fires could represent the worst natural disaster in US history in terms of associated costs.

Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss to be between $135 billion and $150 billion, indicating a surge in homeowners' insurance costs.