Search teams with cadaver dogs fanned out across Los Angeles on Monday, scouring the charred ruins of communities as firefighters prepared for powerful Santa Ana winds expected to spark new wildfires. The week-long disaster in America’s second-largest city has claimed 24 lives, with officials warning the death toll could rise as over 90,000 residents remain displaced.
Amidst the devastation, signs of normalcy have begun to surface. Schools reopened after a week-long closure, and the Los Angeles Lakers prepared to play on Monday night. Yet, with winds gusting up to 75 mph in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, forecasters warned of “extremely critical fire weather conditions” persisting through Wednesday.
“Not only will these extreme and dangerous conditions make fighting ongoing fires much more difficult, but they will also increase the likelihood of new ignitions,” the National Weather Service cautioned.
For parents like Zahrah Mihm, whose Altadena neighborhood was destroyed, shielding children from trauma has been a priority. “I’m trying to take this moment out of his mind,” Mihm said, referring to her four-year-old son Ethan, while standing in the slippers she wore during last week’s evacuation.
Though hundreds of thousands of students returned to school, some campuses in evacuation zones remained closed. Meanwhile, nine individuals faced charges for looting, including the theft of $200,000 and an Emmy statuette, according to District Attorney Nathan Hochman.
Search teams grimly reported daily discoveries of remains. “It is a very grim task,” said County Sheriff Robert Luna, adding, “I believe we’ll continue to find remains.”
The Palisades Fire has scorched nearly 24,000 acres, while the Eaton Fire has burned 14,000 acres. Containment remains limited, and over 12,000 structures lie in ruins.
President Joe Biden emphasized the immense cost of recovery, estimating “tens of billions of dollars” would be needed, and urged Congress to act swiftly. As firefighting resources poured in from neighboring states and countries, Mexican firefighters expressed their solidarity.
With Hollywood and sports teams pledging millions for relief, investigators sought the causes of the fires amid rising climate concerns that have exacerbated such disasters.
