Firefighters in Los Angeles County in the United States are bracing for another round of strong winds as they continue to battle wildfires.

The Barrier Fire remains the largest. It’s been burning for a week. Another fire broke out Monday in neighboring Ventura County, prompting more evacuation orders.

The total area burned by the Palisades, Eaton and Hearst fires is about 16,425 hectares (40,588 acres), an area larger than the area of ​​Paris.

Here’s what we know:

What are the latest developments on the ground?

Number of dead and missing

• At least 25 people have died from the wildfires, including eight people linked to the Palisades Fire and 17 people linked to the Eaton Fire.
• According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire), the Eaton Fire is now the most destructive and deadliest wildfire in Southern California history, with the Palisades Fire ranking as second most destructive.
• The October 2003 Cedar Fire previously held the record as the region’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire, destroying approximately 2,820 structures and killing 15 people in San Diego County.

Active fires:

Three major wildfires are still burning in Los Angeles:

• Palisades fireThe fire destroyed 9,596 hectares (23,713 acres) in the western suburbs of the city, and the containment rate reached 17 percent.
• Eaton fireThe area, located in the foothills east of the city, covered an area of ​​5,712 hectares (14,117 acres), with a containment rate of 35 percent.

• Hearst fire It burned 323 hectares (799 acres) and is 97 percent contained.
• In Ventura County Spontaneous forest fireswhich began on January 13, has expanded to 24 hectares (61 acres, up from 5 acres on Tuesday) and is now 47 percent contained.

Damage and evacuations:

• About 150,000 residents in Los Angeles County remain under evacuation orders, with more than 700 individuals seeking shelter in nine facilities.

What is expected on Wednesday?

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles issued a Red Flag Warning for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, effective 3am-3pm (11:00-23:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

The agency warned in a social media post that strong winds would likely create severe fire weather conditions, and urged residents to be vigilant in anticipation of the possibility of fires spreading quickly.

“Key message: We are not out of the woods yet,” the post read. He added: “The winds were less intense today, but another wave may occur tonight and tomorrow.”

According to the agency’s website, red flag warnings remain active in most Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as well as parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, through Wednesday.

What not to do during red flag warnings?

According to authorities, this warning means warm temperatures, very low humidity, and strong winds are expected to combine to create an increased risk of fire hazards, so the recommendations are:

• All burn barrels must be covered with a weighted metal lid if there is no burning ban in a particular area.
• Avoid throwing cigarettes or matches from a moving vehicle, as they may ignite dry grass on the side of the road and lead to a wildfire.
• Properly extinguish all outdoor fires and avoid throwing live coals on the ground.
• Do not leave the fire unattended. Sparks or embers can blow into leaves or grass, starting a fire and spreading quickly.

What do we know about the victims?

Officials say it may take several weeks to identify the victims because traditional methods such as fingerprinting and visual identification may not be effective.

This is what we know so far about the people reported dead, based on information from their families and international media.

Anthony Mitchell and his son Justin

Anthony Mitchell, a 68-year-old amputee, and his son Justin, who has cerebral palsy, were waiting for an ambulance to evacuate them.

“They didn’t make it,” said Mitchell’s daughter, Hajime White.

She added that authorities informed the family that Mitchell was discovered next to his son’s bed in Altadena. According to The Washington Post, the family believes Mitchell was trying to save his son, who was in his 30s.

“He didn’t want to leave his son behind. Whatever it is,” said White, who lives in Warren, Arkansas, and is Justin’s half-sister, adding that her father called her Wednesday morning and told her they had to evacuate because of the approaching fire. “Then he said, ‘I have to go — the fire is in the yard,’” she said.

“I have to go – the fire is in the yard.”

Some final words from Anthony Mitchell, a father whose daughter lives in Warren, Arkansas. He died at the bedside of his son — who had cerebral palsy — while waiting to be evacuated from the Los Angeles fires.

rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/cVs00gx4E1

— Arkansas Worker (@ArkansasWorker) January 13, 2025

Victor Shaw

Victor Shaw, 66, stayed behind to try to fight the Eaton fire, and was found holding a garden hose in his hand after the fire swept through his neighborhood.

According to news outlet KTLA, he was trying to save the home his family had lived in for nearly 55 years. His sister, Shari Shaw, told KTLA she tried to convince her brother to evacuate with her.

“When I came back and screamed his name, he didn’t answer, and I had to get out because the embers were so big and they flew like a firestorm — I had to save myself,” Shari told KTLA. “And I looked back, and the house was starting to catch fire, and I had to leave.”

Al Tanner, a family friend, told the outlet that they found Victor’s charred body on the side of the road with a hose the next morning. “It seemed like he was trying to save the house that his parents had owned for almost 55 years,” Tanner said.

Victor Shaw is among those who lost their lives in the Eaton fire, with his sister telling ABC News that he died in a heroic attempt to defend his home in Altadena.

Shaw’s body was found in front of the house with the garden hose still in his hand.

Read more: https://t.co/izW9Fe6YKR pic.twitter.com/FOcjjp3tqZ

– ABC News (@ABC) January 10, 2025

Rodney Nickerson

Rodney Nickerson, an 82-year-old Altadena resident, died in his bed after staying home because he felt he would be okay waiting at home, his daughter Kimiko said.

“He was packing up some things, getting his car ready a little bit, and he said he was going to pack up his stuff, but he said he was going to stay here too… He said he felt like this would pass and be over.” “He will be here,” she said.

Kimiko said her father bought the house in 1968 with a $5 down payment and raised his family there.

Erlene Kelly

As the Eaton Fire began to spread Tuesday evening, 83-year-old Earlene Kelly didn’t want to evacuate because previous fires had never reached her home in Altadena.

“She was determined to stay,” her granddaughter, Brianna Navarro, told the Los Angeles Times. “My husband kept asking her if she was sure, if she didn’t want to come with us.”

After moving from Monmouth, Kelly and her late husband, Howard, bought their home in the late 1960s and raised two children there. Navarro said she moved with her husband and two children to live with her grandmother after their grandfather died. Her father, who lives a few miles away, tried to persuade her grandmother to leave, but she refused.

Navarro and her family, as well as her father, evacuated the area after receiving orders to do so. She said she kept in constant contact with her grandmother via text messages.

Why are some Californians pink now?

Recently, images emerged showing air tankers releasing vibrant red and pink powder over the Los Angeles suburbs.

The fire-resistant material has become a common sight in the region.

The Forest Service, which used 13 planes to drop Los Angeles fire suppression materials, says it helps starve the fire of oxygen and slow the burn rate by cooling and covering vegetation and other surfaces.

The bright color helps pilots know where they have actually dropped retardants to avoid interference and ensure effective coverage. It also makes the retardant line visible to ground crews, helping them stay behind the treated area where the fire has been slowed.

Perimeter, a company that supplies fire retardants to the Forest Service and other agencies, says phosphate changes the way cellulose breaks down in plants and makes it nonflammable.

Although fire suppression methods are generally considered safe for people, recent research has shown that they can be harmful to human health and the environment due to the chemicals they contain.

The Forest Service prohibits the use of atmospheric concentrators over waterways and endangered species habitats, except in cases where human life or public safety is at risk because of potential health impacts on fish and wildlife.