LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Millions of Southern Californians nervously kept watch as winds began picking up Wednesday during a final round of dangerous wildfire weather forecast for the region where two massive blazes have thousands of homes.
A day after with lighter winds than expected, gusts were hitting up to 35 mph (56 kph) on the coast and in valleys and 55 mph (88 kph) in the mountains before dawn, National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall said. They through the morning.
鈥淭his is really just the last push of these winds here today," Hall said. "Hopefully, if we get through today, we鈥檙e going to have some , especially into Friday and Saturday.鈥�
The more manageable winds on Tuesday allowed firefighters to make headway on controlling the most deadly and destructive fires that have been burning for just over a week. Almost half of the Eaton Fire just north of Los Angeles has been contained, and one-fifth of the fire that destroyed much of the seaside LA neighborhood of Pacific Palisades is now surrounded.
Both of those fires in conditions similar to what鈥檚 expected Wednesday. High winds last week pushed flames at remarkable speed and carried for miles.
The weather service issued red-flag warnings 鈥� indicating temperatures are warm, humidity is low and strong winds are expected 鈥� from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. from the Central Coast 275 miles (443 kilometers) south to the border with Mexico. A was in effect for an area that includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
A state of alert
were told to be ready to flee at a moment鈥檚 notice. They remained vigilant, keeping an eye on the skies and on each other: Police announced roughly 50 arrests, for looting, flying drones in fire zones, violating curfew and other crimes.
Of those, three people were arrested on suspicion of arson after being seen setting small fires that were immediately extinguished, LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell said. One was using a barbecue lighter, another ignited brush and a third tried to light a trash can, he said. All were far outside the disaster zones. Authorities have not determined a cause for any of the major fires.
Among nine people charged with looting was a group that stole an Emmy award from an evacuated house, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
The biggest worry remained . Now backed by firefighters from other states, Canada and Mexico, crews were deployed to attack flareups or new blazes. The firefighting force was much bigger than a week ago, when the first wave of fires began destroying thousands of homes in what could become the nation's costliest fire disaster.
Kaylin Johnson and her family planned to stay at their home, one of the few left standing in Altadena, near Pasadena. They hoped to ward off looting and to hose down the house and her neighbors鈥� properties to prevent flareups.
鈥淥ur lives have been put on hold indefinitely,鈥� Johnson said via text message, adding that they cannot freely come and go because of restrictions on entering the burn areas. 鈥淏ut I would rather be here and not leave than to not be allowed back at all.鈥�
Packed and ready to go
Residents said they were ready to make a hasty escape.
Javier Vega, who said he feels like he has been 鈥渟leeping with one eye open,鈥� and his girlfriend have planned out how they can quickly pack up their two cats, eight fish and leopard gecko if they get orders to evacuate.
鈥淭ypically on any other night, hearing helicopters flying overhead from midnight to 4 in the morning, that would drive anyone crazy,鈥� Vega said. But figuring they were helping firefighters to keep the flames from threatening their neighborhood, he explained, 鈥渋t was actually soothing for me to go to sleep.鈥�
Preparing for another outbreak
The two biggest fires haven鈥檛 spread very much in the past couple days.
with , while crews and fire engines deployed to particularly vulnerable spots with dry brush in case new fires broke out.
Different kind of disaster
Thomas Martin works with Calvary Disaster Relief, a group that responds to disasters all over the world. He was recently in Florida and North Carolina helping with the recovery from .
Most times, he shows up after floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, helping people repair their roofs and rip out soggy carpet and walls.
鈥淭his is different,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is total devastation. There鈥檚 nothing much we can do other than pray for the folks.鈥�
Wildfires on the rise across LA
With almost no rain in more than eight months, the has had more than a dozen wildfires this year, mostly in the greater Los Angeles area.
Firefighters have jumped on small blazes that popped up, quickly smothering several in Los Angeles county, including a blaze Tuesday evening in the Angeles National Forest.
The four largest fires around the nation鈥檚 second-biggest city have scorched more than 63 square miles (163 square kilometers), roughly three times the size of Manhattan.
Searching for victims
is likely to rise, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. Nearly 30 people were still missing, he said Tuesday. Some people reported as missing earlier have been found.
Hollywood on hold
has been put on hiatus because of the crisis. The Oscar nominations have been delayed twice, and some organizations postponed their awards shows and announcements without rescheduling.
___
Watson reported from San Diego, and Seewer from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press journalists Christopher Weber and Lindsey Bahr in Los Angeles, Lisa Baumann and Hallie Golden in Seattle, and Julie Walker in New York contributed.
Jaimie Ding, Julie Watson And John Seewer, The Associated Press
