Winds increased in Southern California Tuesday morning, posing new challenges for firefighters trying to extinguish raging, out-of-control blazes in Los Angeles that have killed at least 24 people and left at least another 24 missing. The National Weather Service posted an exceptionally rare red flag warning for “particularly dangerous” weather that could lead to “explosive fire growth.” Forecasters said wind gusts in Los Angeles and Ventura counties could hit about 70 to 110 kilometers an hour, with the fires also boosted by low humidity. The same conditions are expected to continue into Wednesday. The winds could strengthen parts of the two major blazes that are still burning in Los Angeles County, undermining the incremental gains that firefighters have made in controlling the fires or igniting new ones. Authorities said one of the blazes, the Palisades fire, was larger than 9,300 hectares but only 17% contained as of early Tuesday, while the Eaton fire, containing more than 5,600 hectares, was 35% contained. More than 100,000 people have been forced from their homes and whole neighborhoods flattened, much like the war zones American television viewers have become accustomed to seeing in Ukraine and Gaza. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told reporters she took an aerial tour of the affected areas on Monday with Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, saying, “The massive, massive destruction is unimaginable until you actually see it.” Anish Mahajan, a Los Angeles County public health official, told residents to wear N95 or P100 masks if they see high winds dispersing ash. “Ash is not just dirt,”- Read more