Millions on edge as return of high wind stokes Los Angeles fire risk

As the Los Angeles wildfires rage on, millions of residents are preparing for another week of uncertainty, packing go-bags with vital documents and irreplaceable mementos while keeping watch for evacuation orders.

Anxious eyes are glued to live television and the Watch Duty app that tracks fires, waiting to see if high winds predicted for this week will send roaring flames hurtling toward their neighborhoods.

Two major wildfires remain largely uncontained, with about 100,000 residents still under evacuation orders as the flames have scorched roughly 40,000 acres. The death count has risen to at least 24 people, and the Los Angeles Police Department said it’s searching for additional victims, including with dogs trained to detect the scent of human remains.

Fear and uncertainty are rampant as the devastating wildfires enter their seventh day. Neighborhoods near the fires’ path are eerily quiet, with police and the California National Guard staffing roadblocks and directing traffic away from danger zones.