Los Angeles is fighting to contain the wildfires before strong winds pick up again. From Reuters

By Nathan Frandino and Lisa Richwine

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Firefighters tried to contain the perimeter of two wildfires in Los Angeles that were burning for a sixth consecutive day on Sunday, taking advantage of a brief respite in dangerous conditions before strong winds were expected to fan the flames again.

At least 24 people have died in what California Governor Gavin Newsom says may be the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history, destroying thousands of homes and forcing 100,000 people to evacuate.

Flames have reduced entire neighborhoods to smoldering ruins, leveling the homes of the rich, famous and common folk alike, and leaving behind an apocalyptic landscape. Officials said 12,300 buildings were damaged or destroyed.

“LA County endured another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.

Aerial firefighters, some drawing water from the Pacific Ocean, dropped water and fire retardant while land crews with hand tools and hoses held the fire line in Palisades as it spread to the upscale Brentwood neighborhood and other populated areas of Los Angeles.

The fire on the city’s west side has consumed 23,713 acres (96 square kilometers), or 37 square miles, and was 11% contained, a figure that represents the percentage of the fire’s perimeter that firefighters have under control.

The Eaton (NYSE:) A fire in the foothills east of Los Angeles burned another 14,117 acres (57 square kilometers), or 22 square miles – nearly the size of Manhattan – and firefighters increased containment to 27%, up from 15% a day earlier.

North of the city, the Hurst Fire was 89% contained, and three other fires that had ravaged other parts of the county were now 100% contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported within containment The pipes may still be burning.

Strong winds return

Firefighters got a temporary break from the weather this weekend as Santa Ana’s winds, which reached hurricane force earlier in the week, finally subsided. The dry winds blowing from the inland deserts had fanned flames and blown embers up to 3 km ahead of the front.

But in an area that hasn’t seen significant rain since April, the National Weather Service predicted winds of up to 50 to 70 miles per hour (80 to 112 km/h) would return Sunday evening in Santa Ana would last until Wednesday.

Officials warned the entire population of Los Angeles County (nearly 10 million residents) that anyone could be ordered to evacuate from the flames and toxic smoke.

As of Sunday, more than 100,000 people in Los Angeles County were ordered to evacuate – down from a previous peak of more than 150,000 – while another 87,000 were facing evacuation warnings.

“These winds, combined with low relative humidities and low fuel humidities, will keep the fire danger very high throughout Los Angeles County,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a news conference, adding that evacuated areas may not reopen until then , when the red flag is triggered The requirements will be lifted on Thursday.

Still, schools except some in mandatory evacuation zones would reopen Monday after closing Thursday and Friday to all 429,000 students in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced.

Newsom told NBC News that the fires were likely the worst natural disaster in U.S. history “just in terms of the costs involved.” Los Angeles County Medical (TASE:) The Examiner reported 24 deaths from the fires.

Private meteorologist AccuWeather has estimated damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion.

To accelerate the monumental recovery effort ahead, Newsom signed an executive order on Sunday temporarily suspending environmental requirements for destroyed homes and businesses.

Active-duty military personnel are ready to support firefighting efforts, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a series of television interviews on Sunday, adding that the agency had urged residents to begin submitting disaster assistance applications.

Firefighters from seven states, Canada and Mexico have already converged on the Los Angeles area to assist fire departments from across the state.

HIGH FEAR

In Altadena, on the edge of the Eaton Fire, Tristin Perez said he never left his home and defied police orders to evacuate as the fire raced down the hillside.

Instead, Perez insisted on saving his property and his neighbors’ homes.

“Their front yard was on fire, the palm trees were glowing – it looked like something out of a movie,” Perez told Reuters in an interview in his driveway. “I did everything I could to stop the line and save my house and help save their houses.”

His one-story yellow semi-detached house was preserved. So did two other houses next door. On the other side of the street, entire houses burned to the ground.

“Many of these areas still look like they were hit by a bomb. There are live power lines, gas lines and other hazards,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

Zuzana Korda was evacuated from her home in the Fernwood neighborhood of Topanga, northwest of Los Angeles. Speaking outside an emergency assistance office at the West Hollywood Public Library, she said her landlord told her the family home was still standing, but she was worried.

“We left everything behind. We don’t have insurance,” Korda said. “We risk losing everything.”