Los Angeles authorities are warning of potential worsening weather conditions over the next few days, as firefighters continue to battle the spreading wildfires.
The Palisades, Eaton, Hurst and Kenneth fires are still active in the LA region.
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The Pacific Palisades fire — the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history — expanded overnight to an additional 400 hectares after a change in wind direction.
CalFire official Todd Hopkins said, while 11 per cent of the Palisades Fire was contained, it had burned more than 8,900 hectares.
He said the Palisades fire had spread to the Mandeville Canyon neighbourhood.
The area is home to Arnold Schwarzenegger and other celebrities not far from the Pacific coast.
CalFire Operations Chief Christian Litz said Mandeville Canyon was a main focus, with the blaze threatening to spread to the upscale neighbourhood of Brentwood.
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More evacuation orders
Meanwhile, 153,000 residents are under evacuation orders throughout the LA area and 57,000 structures are at risk.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said another 166,000 residents had been warned that they may have to evacuate.
Mr Luna said his agency has dispatched 40 search-and-rescue team workers to work jointly with other agencies, including the use of cadaver dogs to search for the remains of victims.
More than 150,000 residents are under evacuation orders. (ABC News: Bradley McLennan)
Six simultaneous blazes that have ripped across Los Angeles County neighbourhoods since Tuesday, killing at least 11 people and at least 13 others are missing so far.
The death toll is expected to mount when firefighters are able to conduct house-to-house searches.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said that conditions in the LA area would improve through the weekend, with sustained winds slowing to about 32 kilometres per hour.
Officials estimate gusting between 56kph and 80kph.
NWS meteorologist Allison Santorelli said these easing gusty winds should help firefighters but conditions were still critical with low humidity and dry vegetation.
However, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said the Santa Ana winds were still a threat to the Eaton fires and would persist until Wednesday.
“These winds, combined with low humidity and low fuel moistures, will keep the fire threat in Los Angeles County high,” he said at a news conference today.
Speculation around LA fire chief
The LA fire department said its chief had not been dismissed, contrary to rumours.
LA fire chief Kristin Crowley held a press conference this week slamming the city’s administration, which she said had cut millions in funding for the fire department.
She also blamed the city for water running out on Tuesday, when about 20 per cent of the hydrants tapped to fight the Palisades fire went dry.
Her perceived falling out with the LA Mayor Karen Bass prompted speculation about her job security, leading to the union to issue a statement confirming she had not been fired.
The mayor also sought to ease the tension.
“Let me be clear about something: The fire chief and I are focused on fighting these fires and saving lives, and any differences that we might have will be worked out in private,” Ms Bass said at a news conference.
“But right now our first and most important obligation to Angelenos is to get through this crisis.”
Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass says she is focused on helping people through the crisis. (Reuters: Vincent Alban)
The LA fire department’s public information officer Erik Scott also said on X that Ms Crowley had not been dismissed and was in full command of the agency.
Here is the latest from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection:
- The Palisades fire is 11 per cent contained (up from 8 per cent yesterday). It has burnt through 9,170 hectares
- The Eaton fire is 15 per cent contained (up from 3 per cent yesterday). It has burnt though 5,712 hectares
- The Kenneth fire is 90 per cent contained (up from 35 per cent yesterday). It has burnt through 425 hectares
- The Hurst fire is 76 per cent contained (up from 37 per cent yesterday). It has burnt though 323 hectares
- The Sunset fire has been 100 per cent contained
- The Lidia fire has been 100 per cent contained
ABC/wires