Firefighters Face Huge Winds as L. A. Fires Rage On

The fires in Los Angeles County are far from over. After a tough day of containing the Palisades fire, firefighters are getting ready for strong winds that could bring the firestorm to new areas. These winds could get really strong, reaching over 75 mph in some places. Weather experts are worried about how this will affect the fires. They're especially concerned about the Eaton fire in Altadena, which might spread even farther. Firefighters are making progress, but the Palisades fire has grown by about 1, 000 acres. They're expecting more strong winds overnight and for the next few days. The weather people say it's not looking good. In fact, the red flag warning has been extended to Wednesday night. These winds could be really harmful to the firefighting efforts. The Palisades fire is now 23, 707 acres and 11% contained. The Eaton fire is 14, 117 acres and 15% contained. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone says his teams are preparing for the tough winds ahead. He thinks there might be more power shutoffs to prevent new fires from starting.On Saturday, the wind changed and pushed the fire north and east. This forced people in Brentwood, Encino, and Tarzana to leave their homes. Firefighting helicopters and planes were trying to stop the flames from getting closer to more neighborhoods. Despite their efforts, at least two houses in Mandeville Canyon burned down. Experts like Jack Cohen and Stephen Pyne are watching the fires with concern. They've been giving advice on how to prevent such devastating fires. They know it's going to be a long fight to put out these fires. Meanwhile, there are still power issues. Southern California Edison says over 300, 000 customers in the region might lose power due to the high risk of wildfires. About 20, 000 customers in L. A. County are already without power. The health department is also warning people about the smoke. They've declared a local health emergency because the smoke can cause breathing problems and other health issues. They've recommended that people wear masks if they have to be outside for a long time.