The winds that fanned the Los Angeles wildfires are expected to flare up again in the early hours of Wednesday, after the 25th death from the massive week-long outbreak was confirmed.
Meteorologists once again designated an “extreme fire danger” zone, confirming the level of danger in an area northwest of the city centre.
The expected increase in wind speed threatens to exacerbate the four remaining fires, which firefighters have made further progress in tackling during a few days of calmer conditions.
There are hopes for another drop in wind speeds after Wednesday, but officials highlighted the need for rain that would aid fire crews in their battle.
The 25th death was confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office. Thirteen other people are still missing.
Most of the victims died in the Eaton Fire, which burned more than 14,000 acres north of the city, but firefighters were able to contain 35% of it.
To the west, the larger Palisades Fire has burned more than 23,000 acres and is now 18% contained. Two small fires also continue to burn.
Some victims of the Eaton Fire have now been allowed to return to their homes, although officials say they do not have a set date for the relocation of the Palisades, an upscale area destroyed by the fire that gives its name.
So tens of thousands of people are still under evacuation orders – a nightly curfew is also in effect – and thousands of homes have been destroyed in one of the costliest natural disasters in American history.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday called the scenes “unimaginable” and pledged to exercise her executive powers to spur rapid rebuilding efforts.
To outline other measures to help local residents, another official, the Los Angeles County Supervisor, said an emergency declaration will be issued to prevent alleged price gouging by Los Angeles landlords amid the crisis.
BBC meteorologist Sarah Keith Lucas said Wednesday's critical conditions were due to the effects of locally moderate to strong Santa Ana winds coupled with very low humidity.
Winds are expected to peak again at 03:00 local time (11:00 GMT) for a period of twelve hours, according to the local office of the National Weather Service (NWS). Wind speeds can reach 50 mph (80 km/h).
The National Meteorological Service warned that the winds were “weaker but still strong” compared to last week’s conditions.
For this reason, areas northwest of Los Angeles, including Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, are particularly dangerous.
But conditions are expected to improve later Thursday and into Friday. Sarah Keith Lucas, a meteorologist at the BBC, added that despite the change in winds, no rain is expected for at least the next week. Santa Ana winds, blamed for fanning the fires, could pick up again starting Sunday.
The city of Pasadena's fire chief stressed the need for rain.
Chad Augustine told BBC Radio 4's Today program that there had been “no real rain in Southern California” for more than 250 days.
Augustin added that on Wednesday firefighters will be “on standby to make sure we maintain containment lines and that we don't burn any more buildings.”
