LOS ANGELES (AP) — More than a week into what could be the costliest wildfires in U.S. history, weary and anxious Los Angeles-area residents were hoping for a favorable shift in the winds expected Thursday and an end to the constant fear that their lives might be further upended.
The blazes that began Jan. 7 have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 25 people, with nearly 30 missing. The conflagrations fueled by dry Santa Ana winds have scorched at least 63 square miles (163 square kilometers) of land, forcing thousands of people from their homes, stretching firefighting efforts thin, knocking out power to tens of thousands and making the water unsafe to drink in some areas. Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fires.
Javier Vega said he feels like he's been “sleeping with one eye open" listening to the sounds of helicopters flying over his Sherman Oaks neighborhood of LA into the early-morning hours. Kaylin Johnson said she and her family have spent sleepless nights keeping watch to ward off looters and hose down their house, which is one of the few still standing in their neighborhood near Pasadena.
“Our lives have been put on hold indefinitely,” Johnson said via text message.
Government agencies haven’t provided preliminary damage estimates yet, but AccuWeather, a company that provides data on weather and its impact, put the damage and economic losses at $250 billion to $275 billion.
Although the winds gained strength Wednesday and set the region on edge, there is hope on the horizon, with a shift in winds expected Friday.
Here’s a closer look at what to know about the fires.
Winds gusted up to 35 mph (56 kph) before dawn Wednesday along the coast and valleys, and up to 55 mph (89 kph) in the mountains around LA, said National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall.
A red-flag warning, which notes the increased risk of fire danger, was already in effect, but the weather service issued a rare warning about a “particularly dangerous situation” related to severe fire conditions. That warning expired Wednesday afternoon, but dry conditions and locally gusty winds are expected to linger into Thursday — especially in some mountain areas, according to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles.
The Santa Ana winds have turned seasonal wildfires into infernos that have leveled neighborhoods in and around Los Angeles, where there has been no significant rainfall in more than eight months.
Southern California’s winds typically flow onshore from the Pacific, carrying moist air onto land. The Santa Ana winds are warm currents that move in the opposite direction. They usually occur from September through May.
The wind is expected to switch directions on Friday and blow from the coast to the desert, which would bring more moisture off the Pacific, Hall said.
Sewer, water and power infrastructure across the region has been significantly damaged, and several utilities have declared their drinking water unsafe until extensive testing can prove otherwise.
Toxic chemicals from the fires can get into damaged drinking water systems. Experts say filtering or boiling won’t help.
Los Angeles County has more than 200 water service providers, but so far only a handful believe that damage or loss of pressure may have resulted in chemical contamination and have issued do not drink notices.
Utilities are focused on ensuring there’s enough water for firefighting, though some are beginning to test for contaminants. It can take weeks or months of testing before water can be declared safe to drink.
More than 82,000 people from highly populated neighborhoods including Pacific Palisades, Altadena and others remained under evacuation orders Wednesday. Another 90,400 people have been warned that they might have to evacuate.
An overnight curfew remains in effect for evacuated areas, and violators have been arrested, authorities said.
Around 850 patients and residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and group homes were evacuated after the blazes last week, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Some students have returned to class. In areas where schools were damaged or destroyed, officials are looking for places to relocate students to temporary classrooms.
More than 120,000 customers in the Los Angeles metropolitan area were without power Wednesday afternoon. Nearly 100,000 of those were customers of Southern California Edison energy company in Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernadino and Riverside counties.
“Due to unsafe conditions, restoration may take longer than usual,” the company said on social media.
Having started two days after the Golden Globes, the blazes arrived during awards season, which is usually a time of glamor and celebration in the nation’s entertainment capital.
Much of Hollywood's usual film promotion and campaigning festivities have ground to a halt. The Academy Awards is still scheduled for March 2, but the Film Academy delayed its nominations announcement and canceled its annual nominees’ luncheon.
The Grammy Awards, scheduled to be held Feb. 2 in downtown Los Angeles, are going forward with changes to focus on raising money for relief efforts and honoring first responders.
The fires also led to the postponement of NBA games, the Critics Choice Awards and nominations to the Producers Guild Awards.
Los Angeles officials have been criticized for not deploying enough firefighters early in the crisis and for hydrants that ran dry as buildings were engulfed in flames.
Officials chose not to double the number of firefighters on duty last Tuesday as the winds whipped up, and the city had only five of more than 40 engines deployed, The Los Angeles Times reported. The department also didn't call in off-duty firefighters until after the Palisades Fire erupted.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley defended her decisions, saying the department did "everything in our capability to surge where we could.”
About 40,000 people have applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has already disbursed more than $8 million for immediate needs such as water, food, baby formula and gas. The initial money goes directly into bank accounts, regional FEMA administrator Robert J. Fenton, Jr. said Tuesday, denying misinformation about vouchers.
President Joe Biden said the federal government would pay all of the firefighting and recovery costs in the first 180 days. But that doesn’t mean FEMA will cover 100% of individual families’ costs — the maximum amount FEMA can provide is $43,600, Fenton said.
FEMA offers up to $770 to help cover the evacuees’ immediate needs, but its larger grants generally aren’t available until after insurance companies pay out.

Search and rescue crew inspect homes destroyed by the Eaton Fire in in Altadena, Calif., is seen Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Search and rescue crew inspect a mobile home park destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Palisades, Calif. is seen, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Search and rescue crew inspect a mobile home park destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Palisades, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A mobile home park destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Palisades, Calif. is seen, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Search and rescue crew from Mexico inspect a mobile home park destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Palisades, Calif. is seen, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District Alberto Carvalho speaks to the media at the first day back to school in a new location for children due to the wildfires from the Palisades Charter Elementary School which is now being held at the Brentwood Science Magnet in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (David Crane/The Orange County Register via AP)

Search and rescue crew inspect a mobile home park destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Palisades, Calif. is seen, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Volunteers unload a truck transporting donated items for residents effected by the Altadena Fire, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Ivan Benavidez, left and his brother Isaac who lost their home in the Altadena fire check on tee-shirts that might fit at a donation center at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Volunteer Patty Matwey offers pet supplies to fire victims at a donation center at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Gelson's Market destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in Malibu, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Ivan Benavidez, left, and his brother Isaac, who lost their home in the Altadena fire, look for clothes at a donation center at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Police officers inspect cars abandoned on Sunset Boulevard during by the Palisades Fire in Palisades, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Volunteer Patty Matwey offers pet food to a fire victim at a donation center at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles is seen, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Corpus Christi Church destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in Palisades, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A California Department of Corrections hand crew works containment lines ahead of the Palisades Fire Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Firefighters walk along Santa Rosa Avenue lined with deodar cedar trees after the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Deodar cedar trees are seen along Santa Rosa Avenue, also referred to locals as the Christmas Tree Lane, after the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

A California Department of Corrections hand crew works containment lines ahead of the Palisades Fire Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Corpus Christi Church destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in Palisades, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A California Department of Corrections hand crew works containment lines ahead of the Palisades Fire Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A beach front home destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in Malibu, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A beach front home destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in Malibu, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A beach front home destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in Malibu, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A California Department of Corrections hand crew works containment lines ahead of the Palisades Fire Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

National guardsmen stage at Will Rogers State Historic Park to monitor activity after the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A beach front home destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in Malibu, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A firefighter inspects homes destroyed by the Eaton Fire in in Altadena, Calif., is seen Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A California Department of Corrections hand crew works containment lines ahead of the Palisades Fire Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Firefighters gather near a "Greetings from Altadena" mural on Lake Avenue after the Eaton Fire, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

A helicopter drops water while fighting the Auto Fire in Ventura County, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Search and rescue workers dig through the rubble left behind by the Eaton Fire, in Altadena, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ty O'Neil)

James Lyons, an engineer with the Apple Valley Fire District, sprays hot spots at a home burned by the Palisades Fire, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A cat wanders amidst cars destroyed by the Eaton Fire, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

The sun rises behind a burned out home in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Workers pull a burnt car out of the wreckage of a home destroyed by the Palisades Fire, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A search and rescue worker sifts through the wreckage of a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Members of the Calvary La Habra pray with Freda McGill, center left, as they drop water off at her home Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Charred vehicles sit along the coast, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

National guardsmen stage at Will Rogers State Historic Park to monitor activity after the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Firefighters put out a hot spot at a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Tim Murphy, with the San Francisco Fire Dept., extends a hose while putting out hotspots in a fire-ravaged zone in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A home destroyed by the Eaton Fire stands in front a home that survived in Altadena. Calif., on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A person sifts through items at an aid center for people affected by wildfires at Santa Anita Park Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Silvia, right, only first name given, picks up donated items from Kara Grewach, left, at an aid center for people affected by wildfires at Santa Anita Park Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A firefighter takes weather readings while standing on a scorched ridgetop above the Eaton Fire in Angeles National Forest on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Kara Grewach, right, hugs Silvia, only first name given, while Grewach donated items at an aid center for people affected by wildfires at Santa Anita Park Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

An air tanker drops retardant while working to contain the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A home destroyed by the Eaton Fire stands in front of a home that survived in Altadena. Calif., on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Silvia, only first name given, picks up donated items while carrying her child at an aid center for people affected by wildfires at Santa Anita Park Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Items are laid out at an aid center for people affected by wildfires at Santa Anita Park Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Arcadia, Calif. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

The Palisades Fire leaves total devastation in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Homes along the Pacific coast are burned to the ground in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The sun rises behind a fire-ravaged beachfront property in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A sign is left behind, damaged by the Palisades Fire Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A chimney is left standing in the early morning hours on a a beachfront property in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The sun rises behind a fire-ravaged beachfront property in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Homes along Pacific Coast Highway are left burned to the ground in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A worker walks past a fire-ravaged beachfront property in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The front face of a building is all that is left standing in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Christmas decorations are left standing in a fire-ravaged community in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A stop sign is damaged in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The sun rises behind a fire-ravaged beachfront property in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

A home stands among residences destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

A home stands among residences destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Workers with Southern California Edison remove a utility pole damaged by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Mike Hassler, a firefighter with Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit, hoses down a hotspot at a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

A Cal Fire engine crew with the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit hoses down a hotspot at a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

The sun rises behind a home destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades community of Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire are seen Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP)

A firefighter rests as crews battle the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

From left, Glendale Fire Department captain Chris Jernegan and his wife Alison help Ella Venne search through the remains of her family's home that was destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Water is dropped on the Palisades Fire by helicopter in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

FILE - Ari Rivera, rear, Anderson Hao hold each other in front of their destroyed home in Altadena, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

FILE - A man walks in front of the burning Altadena Community Church, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in the downtown Altadena section of Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - An emergency vehicle drives through a neighborhood devastated by the Eaton Fire, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

The sun rises behind a home destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades community of Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

The devastation of the Eaton Fire is shown in a neighborhood Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Cars are left charred inside a dealership in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Garrett Yost gathers water from a pool while surveying his neighbors' fire-ravaged properties in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The devastation of the Palisades Fire is seen in the early morning in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Garrett Yost gathers puts out hotspots with water from a nearby pool while surveying his neighbors' fire-ravaged properties in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Homeowners Sohrab Nafici, left, and Christine Meinders return to their fire-ravaged neighborhood in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A charred set of weights is shown in a fire-ravaged property in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Kenneth Snowden, left, surveys the damage to his fire-ravaged property with his brother Ronnie in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A mobile home community devastated by the Palisades Fire is seen in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A firefighting helicopter releases water on a hot spot while battling the Palisades Fire in Topanga, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.(Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

An inhabitant looks on as the sky is filled with smoke from multiple wildfires around the city skyline Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

Spots of the Eaton Fire still burn after the fire swept through the mountains of the Angeles National Forest near Mount Wilson Observatory, north of Pasadena, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

Firefighters monitor hot spots after the Kenneth Fire burnt through hills in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

A bicyclist stands amongst Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates destroyed by the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.(Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Firefighters put out a fire burning inside a tree after the Eaton Fire burned through the mountains of the Angeles National Forest near Mount Wilson Observatory north of Pasadena, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.(AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

A lone burnt tree remains on a hill after the Kenneth Fire burnt through hills in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

Lisa Renn looks at remains of car in Altadena, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Beach front properties are left destroyed by the Palisades Fire, in this aerial view, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

A man searches though his destroyed home after the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

The sun rises as the Palisades Fire ravagee a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Residents are evacuated from a senior living facility as the Eaton Fire approaches Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)