Los Angeles residents are bracing for more devastation as weather forecasts indicate that the winds that help fan the flames may ignite again.
Three fires are still burning. The largest fire, the Palisades Fire, has burned more than 23,000 acres and was 14% contained as of Monday evening.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said “urgent preparations” were being made before winds near hurricane force hit, expected to reach their peak on Tuesday.
On Monday, authorities also announced the arrest of nine people on charges of looting and one on charges of arson.
At a news conference, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman showed videos of some of the looting and outlined maximum penalties if the defendants were convicted.
In some cases, suspects could face life in prison under California's “three strikes” law — under which repeat offenders can be sentenced to 25 years in prison after a third conviction.
The sole suspect in the arson was arrested in the nearby city of Azusa, about 20 miles (32 km) east of downtown Los Angeles.
The arson is not linked to any of the major fires but is alleged to have started in a local park.
Law enforcement has also warned of price gouging, online scams and drones that could interfere with firefighting aircraft.
They said a number of ongoing investigations meant more charges could be brought.
Blake Chow, assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department's Special Operations Bureau, issued a stern warning to the thieves: “You will not get away with it.”
Also on Monday, two lawsuits were filed against energy company Southern California Edison (SCE) by property owners who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire.
They claimed that the company failed to disconnect power to its electrical equipment despite warnings of high winds.
A company spokesperson said SCE has not yet been notified of the complaint, but will review it once it receives it.
The spokesman added, “The cause of the fire is still under investigation.”
The Eaton Fire, the second largest in a series of fires that broke out across the city last week, has burned more than 14,000 acres and is 33% contained, authorities said.
The Palisades Fire saw “very little fire growth” on Monday, said Jim Hudson, CalFire's vice president.
The BBC Meteorological Center says Santa Ana winds – which blow from the east or northeast – could reach speeds of up to 70 mph (112 km/h) on Tuesday, which could spark more fires.
Weather officials say lighter winds are expected after Wednesday, giving firefighters an opportunity to further contain the fires.
At least 24 people died in the fires and 23 others were missing in the Eaton and Palisades fire areas.
A curfew remains in effect in evacuation areas between 18:00 and 06:00 local time.
Adam Schiff, the newly elected Democratic senator from California, told the BBC that he hoped the incoming Trump administration would move quickly to provide disaster relief to the region.
President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly planning to visit the region in the coming days.
When asked if wildfires were becoming increasingly politicized, Schiff said: “There have been people doing this from the moment the fires started.”
“This is not helpful right now. Let's just focus on putting out these fires and getting people the help they need.”
Federal lawmakers are scheduled to meet Tuesday morning to discuss disaster aid for the state.
President Joe Biden said he has directed hundreds of federal personnel and air and ground support to California, and that his team will “immediately respond” to any request for more assistance.
He added: “Our hearts ache because of the 24 innocent lives we lost.”
ReutersMeanwhile, as city fire crews continue to try to contain the fires, local residents have joined the relief efforts.
Actor and comedian Will Arnett told the BBC that he had friends who lost their homes.
“I think everyone should help in the ways they can,” said Arnett, who was helping distribute water to those affected by the fires.
“It's nice to see people coming together and volunteering the way they are.”
Fardad Khayami, a 24-year-old restaurateur in Pacific Palisades, has been delivering hundreds of meals to people affected by the fires.
He told BBC Newsday: “If you look, outside, it seems to provide a normal city where we are. But if you drive five minutes to the west, it seems like a different world.”
He expressed his hope to provide local residents with 500 meals a day “as long as they need it.”
Fardad Khayami“Rents have gone up a lot,” said Altadena resident Michael Stork, who lost his family home.
“I grew up a poor kid who rented, so going back to renting is a little frustrating,” he said.
He said his family wonders whether they will be able to rebuild on the land where their home once stood.
He told the BBC: “We don't know if it will be safe or not.”
While many expensive mansions were lost in the fires, Pete Brown, spokesman for the Pacific Palisades councillor, said many of the owners bought the homes about 50 years ago, some for prices around $25,000 (£20,500).
These elderly homeowners now have nothing left, he said.
“Their fortune was in that house,” Mr. Brown said.
With additional reporting from Helena Humphrey, Crystal Hayes, Reagan Morris, Gabriella Pomeroy and John Sudworth in Los Angeles.
