Los Angeles braces for ‘explosive fire growth’ as high winds near

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Los Angeles braced for winds approaching “hurricane force” on Monday, which meteorologists said could fuel devastating wildfires sweeping through Southern California as damage estimates mount.

As firefighters struggled to contain the deadly fires still burning on the outskirts of the second-largest city in the United States, the National Weather Service issued a “red flag” warning amid deteriorating conditions.

Winds of up to 75 mph are expected to batter the area Monday night into Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service, along with extremely dry conditions to create “critical fire weather.”

“The National Weather Service expects winds to be near hurricane force, so we are making urgent preparations,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Monday. “My top priority, and everyone’s priority, is to do everything we can to protect lives as these winds approach.”

Since last Tuesday, the authorities have been fighting fires that have destroyed more than 40,000 acres of land. California Governor Gavin Newsom warned that the fires could become the costliest disaster in US history, as he clashed with President-elect Donald Trump over the state’s response.

The cause of the fires has not yet been determined, but several lawsuits were filed against utility company Southern California Edison on Monday alleging that it failed to properly shut down power lines despite warnings, which led to the Eaton Fire.

Shares of parent company Edison International fell 11.9 percent on Monday.

“SCE is aware that a lawsuit has been filed related to the Eaton fire but a complaint has not yet been filed,” a Southern California Edison spokesperson said, adding that the company “will review the complaint upon receipt.” The cause of the fire is still under investigation.”

Insurance company stocks were also damaged as the expected damage increased. Wells Fargo analysts estimate that insurance losses could exceed $30 billion and potentially reach $40 billion. On Friday, JPMorgan analysts predicted the industry could reach $20 billion, a level that would have already been the largest in the state’s history.

Newsom said Monday he is proposing an additional $2.5 billion in emergency funding to help Los Angeles recover, clean and reopen schools. “California is organizing a Marshall Plan to help Los Angeles rebuild faster and stronger,” he said in a statement. Funding would need approval by the state Legislature.

The largest fire, the Pacific Palisades fire, was only 14 percent contained late Monday, raising concerns that strong storms in the coming days could reverse progress made in fighting the fires.

The weather service warned that “extreme fire danger” will continue through Wednesday, and said the alert category in place — “red flag warning for a particularly dangerous condition” — is for “severe fire weather scenarios.”

“In other words, this is a very bad situation,” the NWS warned, as it warned that strong winds could lead to “explosive fire growth.”

Officials said the death toll reached 24 on Monday, and is expected to rise as authorities comb through the wreckage in search of missing people.

The disaster spread to the political arena, as Trump on Sunday attacked state authorities for failing to stop the destruction. “The fires are still burning in Los Angeles, and incompetent politicians have no idea how to put them out,” he wrote on his Truth Social network.

The incoming Republican president accused the California governor, a Democrat, of depleting water reserves to protect endangered fish species, and refused to sign the “Water Restoration Declaration.” Newsom’s office said there was no such announcement.

“I don’t think this misinformation and disinformation is helping or helping any of us,” Newsom told NBC. Learn about journalism He indicated that he invited the president-elect to visit the affected areas, but he has not yet received a response. He added: “In response to Donald Trump’s insults, we will spend another month.”

Meanwhile, city officials have warned of price gougers who have raised rental property prices as thousands flee their homes.

Local news site LAist found that a Zillow listing for a furnished home in Bel Air is going for $29,500 a month — 86 percent higher than it was in September.

Cartography by Stephen Bernard