The devastating wildfires raging through the city of Los Angeles have taken at least 24 lives. The authorities have warned that the winds could further intensify the blazes. The fires have now been tearing through the U.S.’s second-largest city for almost a week, leaving entire communities reduced to rubble and several thousands of residents without homes.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has called the wildfires potentially the most destructive natural disaster in U.S. history, having destroyed thousands of homes and forced over 100,000 people to evacuate. While firefighting efforts have slowed the spread of the Palisades Fire, that had been threatening the affluent Brentwood area and the densely populated San Fernando Valley, the danger is far from over.

Meteorologists are predicting a dramatic escalation in fire behavior in the coming days, with winds reaching up to 70 miles per hour (110 kilometers per hour). The National Weather Service has warned that these extreme conditions could lead to a “particularly dangerous situation” from early Tuesday, as gusts may spread flames and embers to new areas.

In response, the Los Angeles County Fire Department has received additional resources, including water trucks and firefighting personnel from other places, to prepare for the renewed threat.

As of now, teams with cadaver dogs are conducting grid searches, fearing that the death toll will continue to rise. Authorities have also made several arrests, including one of a burglar who posed as a firefighter to loot homes. Nighttime curfews in evacuated areas have been extended, and more National Guard resources have been requested.

The Palisades Fire has already scorched 23,700 acres (9,500 hectares) and is only 11 percent contained, with the situation remaining dire.