As wildfires continue spreading through the greater Los Angeles area, 16 people have been reported missing after at least 16 people have been confirmed perished, officials said.
More than 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed by the wildfires, and the threat of further destruction remains high, officials said.
Coupled with low humidity, officials expect high winds to sweep through the region in the coming days, with gusts up to 50 miles per hour, according to Los Angeles City Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley. Authorities instituted a red flag warning until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, with the strongest winds expected to occur on Tuesday.
“These wind events are coming into Los Angeles,” Crowley said at a Sunday press conference. “Every available LAFD firefighter is on hand and will remain in place through this wind event. Additionally, firefighters continue to pour into the Southern California region to bolster our firefighting capabilities.”…