By Jorge Garcia and Lisa Richwine

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Red Flag warnings of severe fire danger ended across the Los Angeles area on Wednesday, but forecasters warned that dry and windy conditions would continue on Thursday, and that the fire threat remains.

The National Weather Service added that the respite for burning Los Angeles is short, with a high chance for renewed Red Flag warnings – if favorable fire conditions with high winds and low humidity the will dominate – starting again on Sunday.

About 6.5 million people remain under a critical fire threat, after fires consumed an area nearly the size of Washington, DC, resulting in at least 25 died so far, authorities said.

Firefighters on Wednesday battled persistently strong and dry winds that fueled two giant fires that have ravaged Los Angeles for eight days, testing the resolve of a city devastated by its worst disaster. in its history.

Officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and prepare to evacuate at a moment’s notice with the highest wind gusts expected to last until Thursday afternoon.

“We want to reiterate the particularly dangerous situation today. Get ready now and get ready to leave,” said County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath in a press conference on Wednesday.

Estimated winds of up to 70 mph (112 kph) did not materialize Wednesday. Still, firefighters are reporting winds of 30 to 40 mph (48 to 64 kph) combined with low humidity in a region that has failed to receive any substantial rain in nine months, meaning that fire threats remain.

The fires damaged or destroyed more than 12,000 homes and other structures, and forced 200,000 people from their homes. About 82,400 people were under evacuation orders and another 90,400 were facing evacuation warnings as of Wednesday, County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

Entire neighborhoods were leveled, leaving behind smoldering ashes and rubble. Many homes have a leftover chimney stack.

About 8,500 firefighters from the western United States, Canada and Mexico kept the fires from growing for three days.

The Palisades Fire on the western edge of the city remains steady at 23,713 acres (96 sq km) burned, and containment is down to 19% – a measure of how much is under perimeter control. the Eaton (NYSE:) The fire in the eastern foothills of the city has 14,117 acres (57 sq km) with 45% containment.

A fleet of air tankers and helicopters dropped water and fire retardant on the hillsides while ground crews with hand tools and hoses worked to contain the fires.

Air firefighters – or fire fighters – operate without proper equipment or autopilot, a view of the pilot through the windscreen and his experience.

“I call it ‘feeling the energy,'” said pilot Diego Calderoni, from a contractor based in New Mexico, referring to a mystical energy in the Star Wars films.

Hundreds of visiting firefighters and emergency workers remain outside the Rose Bowl football stadium, a base camp where colleagues build camaraderie between 24-hour shifts followed by 24-hour shifts. without.

“You are all in this for the same mission,” said Martin Macias of St. Helena Fire Department in Northern California. “We all go into this as a service, to make someone’s day better in the worst of times.”

A new fire broke out on Wednesday in San Bernardino County east of Los Angeles, burning 30 acres (12 hectares), Cal Fire reported. Two other fires in Southern California are largely under control.

Some Angelenos are trying to return to some semblance of normalcy.

Displaced students and teachers from Palisades Charter Elementary School found a new home Wednesday at the nearby Brentwood Elementary Science Magnet, where they were welcomed with open arms.

“For the kids who lost their homes and also lost their school, it’s absolutely devastating. And the way I can help and the way I can give back is to make sure the kids have a place to go to. And even though we lost the physical building, we still have our community,” said Palisades Charter Elementary Principal Juliet Herman.

FIRE PREPARATION IS QUESTIONED

As the fires continued, critics questioned whether the city had properly prepared for the fire danger in the face of National Weather Service warnings of dangerous weather, even though firefighters were alert and able to deploy property of the first.

Fire Chief Kristin Crowley fielded questions Wednesday about a Los Angeles Times report that fire officials chose not to order 1,000 firefighters to remain on duty for a second shift Tuesday while the fires burn. began to grow out of control.

The Times quoted critics as saying that the outbound shift should have been continued and that as many as 25 additional fire engines should be moved to the slopes.

Crowley defended his department’s preparedness, saying it was impossible to know where fires might break out and that some firefighters had to stay in place to handle ordinary emergency calls everywhere. in the town.

“We’re doing everything in our power to improve when we can,” Crowley said.

The Times quoted Deputy Chief Richard Fields, who oversaw personnel and equipment decisions before the fire, as saying the review was welcome but critics were too quick to question the decisions afterward. the truth.