24 dead as high winds to return

Fears 75mph Santa Ana will whip up flames

- Christopher Bucktin

INFERNOS ripping through California have claimed at least 24 lives – and high winds may cause more deaths. With evacuation orders still in place, emergency crews last night rushed to create fire-breaks before forecast 75mph gales could fuel further destruction. No rain is expected. Pasadena fire chief Chad Augustin said the blazes may "take off" again this week, adding that the fight against them was at a "fork in the road".

He said: "Once we get past Wednesday night, I'm going to be saying 'Woah, we made it, and this fire is just about under control', and then we're going to spend the next couple of weeks just mopping up hotspots.

"Or 'This fire's going to take off on Tuesday or Wednesday with these increased wind conditions.'"

On top of confirmed deaths, 16 people are missing in the fires that have destroyed more than 12,500 buildings across 40,000 acres, including some of Los Angeles' wealthiest areas.