Los Angeles firefighters on alert for return of extreme winds: ‘we are not in the clear’

Los Angeles firefighters braced on Tuesday for a new round of intense winds that could fuel two monstrous wildfires that have already killed at least 24 people, levelled entire neighbourhoods and scorched an area the size of Washington, D.C.

Much of Los Angeles and Ventura County could experience wind gusts of 80 to 110kph (50 to 70mph) from early Tuesday through Wednesday as dry Santa Ana winds picked up after relative calm last week, according to the National Weather Service.

It declared a red flag warning, meaning the situation was dangerous and could ignite new fires while stoking those already burning.