The firefighting in the Los Angeles area continues with a moderate respite in the Santa Anna winds.  However, the death toll continues to rise.

(The Guardian) The death toll from the Eaton and Palisades fires that have consumed large swathes of Los Angeles county – and are still less than 30% contained – has risen to 24, according to medical examiners.

The county of Los Angeles medical examiner published a list of fatalities without giving details of any identities. Eight of the dead were found in the Palisades fire zone, and 16 in the Eaton fire zone, the document said.

Officials in California warned on Sunday that strengthening winds in the coming days threatened to expand the destruction through the city that has already seen many neighborhoods erased. More than 1,800 total structures had been destroyed by the two fires with upwards of 10,000 damaged.

Three wildfires were still burning Sunday in Los Angeles county, where more than 150,000 people remained under an evacuation warning. Firefighters said shifting Santa Ana winds could blow the Palisades fire, which has razed almost 24,000 acres, back on itself towards the coast.

At a news conference on Sunday afternoon, officials said more than 4,700 personnel were assigned to stopping the blazes from spreading as winds are forecast to pick up again from tonight through Wednesday. (read more)