Authorities have issued warnings about strong winds in California, which are increasing the risk to areas already affected by wildfires. In response, firefighters from other states, along with teams from Canada and Mexico, have been called in to assist with the ongoing efforts to contain the fires.

Fresh warnings were issued as Santa Ana winds swept over Los Angeles and the surrounding areas in California, increasing the threat of wildfires. Two major fires, which have been raging since last week, have claimed the lives of at least 25 people.

By Tuesday evening, the winds had weakened, but forecasters warned they would intensify overnight, posing a heightened risk for wildfires. Authorities urged residents to stay vigilant, remain prepared for potential evacuations, and avoid any activities that could spark a fire. The National Weather Service issued Red Flag Warnings across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as well as parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, which will remain in effect until Wednesday.

Los Angeles and Ventura counties were identified as being in a "Particularly Dangerous Situation." Andrew Dowd, a spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department, assured the public that helicopters were on standby to assist with firefighting efforts, including water drops on newly sparked fires.

Firefighting teams have received reinforcements from other states, as well as from Canada and Mexico, to help battle the flames. LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone stated that while the winds were not as fierce as last week, they could still ground firefighting aircraft if they reached speeds of 70 mph (112 kph), making it more difficult to control the fires. He also issued a warning to homeless individuals against starting fires to stay warm in the cold conditions.

To prevent power lines from sparking new fires, electricity was cut to about 90,000 households. Hundreds of residents have been evacuated, and approximately 88,000 people remain displaced, which is half the number of evacuees from the previous week. Some residents were told to be ready to evacuate on short notice.

Sonja Jackson, a local resident, shared her experience with the Los Angeles Times, saying, "We all left with the clothes on our back. We thought we'd be able to come back in the morning. We didn’t think the fires were gonna do what they did."

Authorities reported that about 50 people had been arrested for various crimes, including theft, violating curfews, flying drones in fire zones, and even setting small fires.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has also called for debris removal teams to be on standby in anticipation of possible winter storms and landslides, which could compound the crisis.

As the disaster continues, insurance estimates of the damages have risen sharply. AccuWeather now estimates the total cost of the destruction to be between $250 billion and $275 billion (€242 billion to €267 billion).

The Los Angeles area has been suffering from a prolonged dry spell and has seen nearly a dozen wildfires this year alone. Due to the ongoing crisis, Hollywood’s awards season has been temporarily halted.