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By Anna Commander
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Amid the ongoing wildfires, residents in portions of Southern California have been advised on Monday that a red flag warning is in effect and conditions are "about as bad as it gets," according to the National Weather Service (NWS) Los Angeles.
Why It Matters
Strong winds are expected to pick back up on Monday and into the week. Portions of Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and Orange County are also under an "extreme fire danger" and residents are urged to "stay aware" of their surroundings, the NWS Los Angeles wrote in a X, formerly Twitter, post.
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The wildfires, which have so far killed 24 people and have destroyed thousands of structures, started burning last week amid strong Santa Ana winds. The Palisades fire and the Eaton fire are both currently active as the Palisades fire is 14 percent contained, and the Eaton Fire is currently 33 percent contained.
What To Know
As of Monday morning, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire) says the Eaton fire is 14,117 acres, with the cause of the fire remaining under investigation. Nearly 40,000 structures have been threatened.
The Palisades fire is 23,713 acres, CAL Fire said its update. The cause of this fire is also under investigation as over 12,000 structures have been threatened.
On Monday afternoon, the NWS Los Angeles wrote on X that "PDS Red Flag Warnings are for the extreme of the extreme fire weather scenarios. In other words, this setup is about as bad as it gets."
It added that people should be "be prepared to evacuate" and to "avoid anything that can spark a fire."
The wildfires, meanwhile, have caused backlash at local and state leaders, most notably California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, also a Democrat.
On his social media platform Truth Social, President-elect Donald Trump called for Newsom to resign. Trump has also blamed the governor for the latest wildfires, accusing him of prioritizing environmental policies, including protections for the endangered delta smelt fish, over the needs of Californians.
One formal recall effort has already been launched against Newsom, while more than 100,000 signatures have been attached to an online petition demanding Bass' resignation.
On Friday, Newsom sent a letter to the president-elect, asking him not to "politicize" the tragedy and to come and "see the devastation firsthand."
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What People Are Saying
NWS' Susan Buchanan told Newsweek via email on Monday: "Gusty conditions decreased for much of southern California over the weekend, with the exception of wind-prone locations of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, where some gusts of 40-65 mph were recorded Saturday night into Sunday morning."
She added: "Offshore winds will become more widespread for many of the typical Santa Ana-impacted areas of southern California late Sunday night through Wednesday, with gusts of 45-55 mph in many areas, and localized gusts of 60-70 mph across portions of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, especially in the mountains and foothills. These winds will not be nearly as strong as those recorded last week, but given ongoing very dry conditions, critical fire weather conditions will occur."
California Governor Gavin Newsom urged residents to be aware of the weather warning on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday: "The National Weather Service has issued 'Particularly Dangerous Situation' warnings four times in the last three months. The first preceded the Mountain Fire (Ventura) - 243 structures destroyed. The second preceded the Franklin Fire (Malibu) - 20 structures destroyed. The third preceded the Palisades and Eaton Fires - Thousands of homes, gone as we continue to battle blazes. The fourth, starts tomorrow."
The NWS Los Angeles wrote on X on Monday reacting to Newsom: "While Red Flag Warnings do not predict fire starts, they do highlight a dangerous environment favorable to rapid fire growth IF one does start. This particular post from the governor really does provide context to the situation we are heading into. Stay safe neighbors. #cawx"
President-elect Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday: "The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place. This is one of the worst catastrophes in the history of our Country. They just can't put out the fires. What's wrong with them?"
What Happens Next
As firefighters continue to fight the wildfires, the "extreme fire danger" warning goes until Wednesday, the NWS said.
Follow Newsweek's live blog as we provide live updates on the Los Angeles fires and their impact.
Update 1/13/25 5:17 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Buchanan.
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