By Chris Boyette and Mary Gilbert, CNN
Flames and smoke are seen near power lines as the Palisades fire grows near the Mandeville Canyon neighbourhood and Encino, California, on January 11, 2025. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP
Santa Ana winds are whipping Southern California on Tuesday, sparking fresh fears that progress made fighting wildfires that have scorched over 40,000 acres and left 28 dead could be reversed and more blazes could break out.
New wildfires have flared in San Diego County, but fire activity has already decreased significantly in the 80-acre Lilac Fire, which is now 10 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The Pala Fire was stopped at 17 acres, authorities reported on Tuesday, and evacuation orders were lifted, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office said.
Another wildfire briefly broke out near the famed Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles on Monday, but firefighters quickly put it out, with no damage to nearby structures.
Another wildfire briefly broke out near the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. Photo:
Small fires in the Granada Hills and Tujunga neighbourhoods of LA were stopped before any homes were damaged or destroyed, and no evacuation orders were issued, Los Angeles Fire Department chief Kristin Crowley said on Tuesday.
The Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, which has burned 23,713 acres, was 63 percent contained, and LA's Eaton Fire was 89 percent contained at 14,021 acres as of Tuesday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
Since the latest wind event began, hurricane-force gusts of 74 miles per hour (119km/h) or more have roared over the region's mountains and valleys.
Sill Hill, in the San Diego County Mountains, saw 102 mph gusts and Magic Mountain in Angeles National Forest, in the San Gabriel Mountains, had 88 mph gusts.
The potent Santa Ana winds will calm down later on Tuesday, but winds will still be gusty at times through until Thursday afternoon. These gusts, combined with continued dry conditions, will keep fire weather risks elevated.
A "particularly dangerous situation" warning has expired but red flag warnings remain in effect until 10pm on Tuesday (US time).
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a windblown dust and ash advisory through until Tuesday due to the strong winds and the particles left behind by the fires potentially impacting air quality throughout the county.
Burned-out cars and homes reduced to rubble by the Palisades Fire are seen in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 12, 2025. Photo: AFP / Frederic J. Brown
Los Angeles bracing once again
Firefighting teams pre-deployed in anticipation of the high winds and greater fire risk, officials said.
The Los Angeles Fire Department "has deployed all available resources and strategically positioned fire patrols and fire engines in the high-risk areas across the city of Los Angeles … we are also strategically managing our emergency operations to ensure a rapid response to all new fires", Crowley said.
Additionally, firefighting teams from around the region have also pre-positioned fire engines and firefighting aircraft across Southern California, according to Crowley.
The Los Angeles Police Department has completed an "exhaustive" search for any missing persons or people who died within the Palisades Fire burn area within the city of Los Angeles, Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said on Tuesday.
Police have also established a staging area for residents of one Palisades neighbourhood to be escorted safely to their properties and were working on offering more escorts as additional burn zones were deemed safe and stable enough.
"All of our unified commanders are doing everything they can to allow safe access to the residents in this community as soon as they can. And I thank all of you for your patience," Choi said.
Rain may be on the horizon
Rainfall has been scarce across Southern California, but there is a chance of rain in the forecast for this weekend - a mixed blessing for a region starved for moisture for months but also blighted with chemically contaminated burn scars in areas prone to mudslide.
Downtown Los Angeles last saw 0.1 inches (0.25cm) of rainfall on May 5, 2024 - 258 days ago - and has only seen 0.16 inches of rainfall since October 1. With no rainfall since the start of 2025, 90 percent of Los Angeles County is now in severe drought, according to the US Drought Monitor.
But despite rainfall predictions for less than an inch, local leaders were preparing for any negative impact the rain could have on the scorched earth.
LA mayor Karen Bass surveys some of the damage with California Governor Gavin Newsom on January 8, 2025. Photo: AFP / Getty Images / Eric Thayer
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass said she issued an executive order "to shore up burn areas and stem the flow of toxic debris" should it rain over the weekend.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has extended an ocean advisory warning residents to avoid any contact with the water at certain beaches.
"Ash from the Los Angeles fires may enter coastal water through surface water runoff and windblown ash. The ash may contain substances including arsenic, other metals, and asbestos, which can be harmful to human health," the advisory said.
"I normally pray for rain. God knows we generally need it," Los Angeles City Council member Traci Park, who represents the Palisades district, said. "But right now, let me point out the obvious, the burn scar of the Palisades fire not only sits feet from the ocean itself, but already on hillsides that are already prone to slide."
The city council approved her motion instructing the Bureau of Engineering and LA Sanitation to create a comprehensive waste mitigation and slope stabilisation plan, according to Park.
She said the rain will spread the hazardous materials and contaminants left after the fires. "When it rains, they flow into our gutters and storm drains, our creeks and waterways, and eventually, our beaches and ocean," Park said.
President Trump comes to town
President Donald Trump said he will visit California on Friday to survey the damage caused by the devastating wildfires.
"I … want to send our love to everyone affected by the terrible wildfires raging in California," he said.
Trump previously said he had not spoken to California Governor Gavin Newsom since the outbreak of the wildfires, but has slammed the governor and other Democratic officials over the fire response and called them "incompetent".
Meanwhile, former vice president Kamala Harris flew to Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, visited a fire station and distributed food to community members impacted by the wildfires.
Harris is from California and before she was vice president served as a US senator representing California and the attorney general of the state.
CNN's Robert Shackelford contributed to this report.
_CNN
