Los Angeles is bracing for stronger winds as fires continue to burn

Residents of Los Angeles are bracing for further destruction as weather forecasts indicate that the winds that are helping to fan the flames could reignite.

Three fires continue to burn. The largest, the Palisades Fire, has burned more than 23,000 acres and remained 14 percent contained as of Monday evening.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said “emergency preparations” were being made ahead of near-hurricane-force winds forecast to peak on Tuesday.

At least 24 people have died in the fires and another 23 are missing in the Eaton and Palisades fire zones.

On Monday, authorities also announced that nine people had been arrested for robbery and one for arson.

At a press conference, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman showed videos of some of the robberies and outlined the maximum sentences if the defendants are convicted.

In some of the cases, the suspects could face life in prison under California’s “three strikes” law — under which repeat offenders can be sentenced to 25 years to life after a third conviction.

The sole arson suspect 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 said to have started in a local park.

Law enforcement also warned against price gouging, Internet scams and flying drones that could interfere with firefighting aircraft.

They said a number of ongoing investigations meant more charges could be laid.

Blake Chow, assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Special Operations Division, issued a stark warning to looters: “You’re not going to get away with it.”

Also Monday, two lawsuits were filed against power company Southern California Edison (SCE) by property owners who lost homes in the Eaton fire.

They claim the company failed to turn off its electrical equipment despite warnings of high winds.

A company spokesman said SCE had not yet received the complaint but would review it once it was received.

“The cause of the fire remains under investigation,” the spokesman said.

The Eaton fire, the second largest of a series of blazes to break out in the city last week, has burned more than 14,000 acres and is 33 percent contained, authorities said.

There was “very little fire growth” from the Palisades fire Monday, said Jim Hudson, CalFire deputy chief.

The BBC Weather Center said Santa Ana winds – blowing from the east or north-east – could reach gusts of up to 70mph (112km/h) on Tuesday, potentially fueling new fires.

Weather officials say lighter winds are expected to develop after Wednesday, giving firefighters a chance to further contain the blazes.

A curfew remains in effect in evacuation areas between 18:00 and 06:00 local time.

Adam Schiff, the Democratic senator-elect for California, told the BBC he hoped the incoming Trump administration would act quickly to provide disaster relief.

Asked if wildfires have become increasingly politicized, Schiff said, “There are people who have been doing this since the fires started.”

“That’s not helpful right now, let’s just focus on putting these fires out, getting people the help they need.”

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly planning to visit the area in the coming days.

Federal lawmakers will meet Tuesday morning to discuss disaster aid for the state.

President Joe Biden said he has directed hundreds of federal personnel, air and ground support to California and his team will “respond immediately” to any request for more help.

“Our hearts ache for the 24 innocent lives we lost,” he said.

Meanwhile, as city fire crews continue to try to control the flames, local residents have joined the relief effort.

Actor and comedian Will Arnett told the BBC he had friends who had lost their homes.

“I think everyone should help in whatever way they can,” said Arnett, who was helping distribute water to those affected by the fires.

“It’s good to see people coming together and volunteering as they are.”

Fardad Hayami, a 24-year-old restaurant owner in Pacific Palisades, delivered hundreds of meals to people affected by the fires.

He told BBC Newsday: “If you look from the outside it looks like it offers a normal city where we are. But if you drive five minutes west, it looks like a different world.”

He hoped to provide locals with 500 meals a day “for as long as they need them”.

Altadena resident Michael Stork, who lost his family home, said “rents have gone up a lot.”

“I grew up as a poor kid who was a tenant, so going back to renting is a bit gut-wrenching,” he said.

His family wonders if they will ever be able to rebuild on the land where their home once stood, he said.

“We don’t know if it will ever be safe,” he told the BBC.

While many expensive mansions were lost in the fires, Pete Brown, a spokesman for a local councilor in Pacific Palisades, said many owners had bought the homes around 50 years ago, some for prices around $25,000 (£20,500).

He said these elderly owners are now left with nothing.

“Their fortune was in this home,” Mr Brown said.

With additional reporting by Helena Humphrey, Crystal Hayes, Regan Morris, Gabriella Pomeroy and John Sudworth in Los Angeles.