Firefighters on alert as LA wildfire deaths surge to 24

Four fires around the US's second biggest city have ignited over 160 sqkm, roughly three times the size of Manhattan

- Associated Press

LOS ANGELES: A growing force of firefighters moved into the Los Angeles area on Monday as more powerful winds were expected to trigger new wildfires that could set back the recent progress made in containing blazes that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.

Crews and equipment arrived from across the U.S., and from Canada and Mexico—including water trucks and planes that drop firefighting chemicals—as the National Weather Service warned that the coming days could become "particularly dangerous".

It predicted severe fire conditions will last through Wednesday, with wind gusts in the mountains reaching 105 kmph. The most dangerous day will be Tuesday, warned fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns at a community meeting on Sunday night.