The city of Los Angeles, California, continues to battle wildfires that broke out on January 7. 24 people were killedpresents a host of challenges for authorities and firefighters trying to put it out.

Here’s a look at the latest fire developments, and what’s hampering firefighters’ efforts.

What is the current status of the wildfires in Los Angeles?

The fires burned 16,300 hectares (40,300 acres) and destroyed more than 12,300 structures, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

Three fires are still actively burning, according to Cal Fire. The first and largest fire that broke out in… Pacific BarriersCal Fire says it is 13 percent contained. The Eaton Fire, affecting Altadena, is 27 percent contained. The Hurst fire is 89 percent contained.

Containment is a term firefighters use to represent the amount of control line that has been placed around a fire, which can then allow firefighters to – at least in theory – contain its spread. Containment does not equal safety.

What are the main challenges surrounding bushfires?

Santa Ana winds Dry conditions made it difficult for firefighters to put out the fire. Under high wind conditions, it is unsafe for helicopters to fly close to the ground, Joe Ten Eyk, wildfire/urban interface program coordinator for the International Association of Fire Fighters, told The Washington Post. Last week, firefighting helicopters were forced to temporarily stop work on Tuesday when winds were particularly strong.

The wildfires also raised concerns about insurance among California homeowners who lost their properties. A week after the fires, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara activated moratorium powers, suspending all policy cancellations and renewal denials for one year.

Issues with low water supplies have also proven to be a hindrance to firefighting efforts.

Why did the fire hydrants dry up?

Rescue efforts in Palisades were hampered by low pressure in the water supply at higher elevations.

Los Angeles receives its water supply from 114 reservoirs, all of which were fully filled before the fires. However, it was not possible to refill the three water tanks located in the high Palisades area due to high demand.

On the morning of January 8, Janice Quiñones, CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, told reporters that the water tanks in Palisades had been exhausted.

“We pushed the system to the limits,” she said, adding that “four times the normal demand was recorded for 15 hours straight, which caused our water pressure to drop.”

The fire started in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood at 10:30 a.m. (18:30 GMT) on Tuesday, according to Cal Fire. Two of the million-gallon tanks, located at an elevation in the Palisades area, ran out late Tuesday.

By 3 a.m. (11:00 GMT) on Wednesday, the third tank had also run out, Quinones said. Water reserves were located at low elevation, making it difficult to refill high-altitude reservoirs.

Fire hydrants are made to extinguish fires in one or two homes at a time, not hundreds of homes, Quinones said.

On the night of January 9, firefighters stopped using fire hydrants at all. On January 10, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom called for an independent investigation into water shortages during the wildfires.

What really happened to the water supply?

Republican President-elect Donald Trump blamed Newsom for the damage caused by the fires.

On January 8, he wrote on his platform Social Truth that Newsom “refused to sign the water restoration proclamation before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from heavy rain and snowmelt from the north, to flow daily into many parts.” “California, including areas that are currently burning in an almost horrific way.”

Others also criticized the water shortage. “When firefighters get to a hydrant, they expect water to be available,” Los Angeles Fire Chief Christine Crowley said during a local news interview.

However, there are others He denied Trump’s allegations That California’s water policy is to blame. Instead, the shortages occurred because Los Angeles simply isn’t designed to withstand a fire incident as large and intense as the ongoing one in Palisades and elsewhere, they said.

Southern California has an abundance of stored water, said Mark Gould, director of water scarcity solutions at the Natural Resources Defense Council and a member of the Southern California Metropolitan Water District’s board of directors.

“It doesn’t matter what happens in Delta Bay or Colorado [River] “Or the eastern Sierra now,” Gould said. “We have all this water in storage now. The problem is when you look at something like firefighting, it’s a more local issue of where the water is. Do you have enough local storage space?”

Large fires in urban areas can cause damage to water pipes, leading to large amounts of water leaking, Andrew Wilton, an engineering professor at Purdue University, told the Associated Press.

When will the Santa Ana winds stop?

These hot, dry winds blow from within the region towards the coast and into the sea. They dehydrate plants, making them highly flammable.

On the night of January 7, wind gusts of up to 100 mph (160 km/h) were recorded at higher elevations, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Danielle Ehresmann.

While the winds had slowed by January 9, they were expected to pick up again through Wednesday evening, with officials warning that the strongest gusts were expected on Tuesday.

A red flag warning is in effect until 6pm local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

High mountain areas are expected to witness wind gusts between 25 mph (40 km/h) and 40 mph (95 km/h) in the coming days, and may reach speeds of up to 70 mph (112 km/h). .

Many measures are being taken at the federal and local levels to address the crisis. Private companies are also chiming in on the solutions.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to address the emergency on January 7.

Local hotels are offering discounts to those evacuated due to wildfires. Ride-hailing apps, Los Angeles Metro and telecommunications providers are also offering limited free services to those affected by the fires in the area.

How many firefighters are there in Los Angeles?

There are about 14,000 firefighters Of California and eight other states, along with Canada and Mexico, on the ground. In addition, 1,400 fire engines and 84 aircraft were deployed as part of the bushfire response.

What challenges will Los Angeles face from wildfires?

Wind is the No. 1 challenge to overcome, said Stephen Payne, professor emeritus at Arizona State University’s College of Life Sciences.

“The fires are not over, and they will not end until the winds die down — not just the Santa Ana winds up and down the mountains, but the local winds that will move as the Santa Anas recede,” he told Al Jazeera. .

“The indirect effects will last for years,” Payne added.

He said the clean-up process after the fire would be a long and expensive process. He pointed out that modern homes are full of toxic plastic and electronics.

Even more alarming is that California has become more vulnerable to fires, and the fire season has extended longer. Newsom said in a video he posted on X on January 8 that there is no longer a “season” for fires in California. “It’s year-round in California.”

All hands on deck to fight #PalisadesFire In Southern California. California is extremely grateful to the brave firefighters and first responders battling the blaze.

We will continue to mobilize resources and support local communities as they respond to this extreme weather. pic.twitter.com/JZrYy85e4z

– Governor Newsom (@CAgovernor) January 8, 2025