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• Powerful winds threatened to rekindle fires in Los Angeles, where 24 people have died. 
• Firefighters are on high alert, with 88,000 evacuees eager to return home. 
• Health officials warned of toxic ash, urging residents to wear masks for protection. 

Powerful winds have threatened to rekindle and whip up major fires that have devastated parts of Los Angeles, killing at least 24 people and changing the face of America’s second biggest city — possibly forever. 

A week after blazes erupted and spread uncontained, forecasters predicted “particularly dangerous” Santa Ana winds would spike the wildfire threat anew for already exhausted firefighters. 

“Stay aware of your surroundings. Be ready to evacuate. Avoid anything that can spark a fire,” the National Weather Service warned. 

A large part of Southern California was under a Red Flag warning, indicating intense dryness and furious winds gusting up to 110km/h would make conditions ripe for wildfire. 

Part of Los Angeles County and much of neighbouring Ventura County were in a “particularly dangerous situation,” according to the NWS, a designation that was also declared before last week’s deadly blazes. 

“All the plants and vegetation is really dry and ready to burn so... fires can grow pretty fast,” meteorologist Ryan Kittell said. 

The Palisades and Eaton Fires — both of which are still burning in places — could flare, and new ignitions could quickly turn problematic, he said. 

A new fire that broke out on Monday in Oxnard, 80km from Los Angeles, set nerves jangling, with firefighters pouncing to contain it. 

Officials insisted they were poised for any renewed threats, particularly around the existing burn sites, after hydrants ran dry in the initial firefight. 

“Please be assured that the Los Angeles County region is prepared,” fire chief Anthony Marrone said. 

• "Barely possible" to contain embers in LA wildfires
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“We have checked the water system in the Eaton fire area, and it is operational, meaning that we have water and we have pressure.” 

The renewed danger comes with 9700 hectares of the upmarket Pacific Palisades in ruins and 5600ha of the city of Altadena badly charred. 

The charred remains of homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California. Photo / AFP 

Gusting winds were also whipping up toxic ash, with health officials urging everyone to wear a mask. 

“Ash is not just dirt,” Anish Mahajan of LA County Public Health Department said. 

“It’s hazardous fine dust that can irritate or harm your respiratory system and other parts of your body where it lands.” 

‘It was just a war’ 

About 88,000 evacuees are desperate to get back to their homes — or even just to see if anything at all survived. 

“My house is gone, I know that. I’ve seen pictures and all that’s left is the chimney. But I need to see it by myself to believe it,” Fred Busche said. 

Among the desperation, there were stories of fortitude. 

At least 24 people have been confirmed dead from blazes that have ripped through the city, reducing whole neighbourhoods to ashes and leaving thousands without homes. Photo / AFP 

Jeff Ridgway refused to abandon the apartment complex he manages, defending it against the fires by hauling buckets of water from the pool. 

“It was just a war,” the 67-year-old said, pointing to a charred eucalyptus tree he extinguished when it threatened the building last week. 

“But I was just stubborn. I was like: ‘I’m not going to be defeated by you. I’m sorry, this is just not gonna happen’.” 

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Search teams using cadaver dogs have been scouring the rubble for days in the hunt for dozens of people still unaccounted for, with Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna saying 1800 homes were searched on Tuesday. 

“The good news was that no other remains were found yesterday. Hopefully, that happens again today. 

“We don’t want the death toll to continue to go up.” 

Chat show host Jimmy Kimmel was back on the air Monday night after having to evacuate his studio last week when a blaze erupted in the Hollywood Hills, just a few hundred metres away. 

“It’s been a very scary, very stressful, very strange week here in LA, where we work, where we live, where our kids go to school,” an emotional Kimmel told his audience. 

“It’s been terrible. Everyone who lives in this city knows someone... whose house has burned down. And the truth is we don’t even know if it’s over.” 

With so many in dire straits, the city was clutching for any sliver of good news, with some taking refuge in local sports teams who were back in action. 

The Los Angeles Rams dominated the Minnesota Vikings in an NFL playoff game to take them one step closer to the Super Bowl, cheered on by fans brandishing flags and signs thanking firefighters. 

“We knew what we were playing for,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said. 

“It’s a tough time. We’re just happy that we came out and played like this tonight to get (fans) something to be happy about.” 

-Agence France-Presse