At least 28 people are believed to be dead and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires rage across Southern California.

Critical fire weather is expected to continue until Wednesday at the earliest, increasing the risk that fires will spread further.

They are sparking fears that progress made fighting wildfires could be reversed as the new president prepares to survey the damage.

Another round of fire-fueling Santa Ana winds is lashing Southern California after a brief weekend reprieve helped crews make more progress battling the deadly infernos in Los Angeles County.

More than two weeks after flames erupted in densely populated neighborhoods in Los Angeles, firefighters were still struggling to put out the Eaton and Palisades fires. Those blazes — which left at least 28 people dead and destroyed more than 16,

Firefighters braced for high winds, with the National Weather Service of LA issuing its most serious advisory, “Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS)".

Parched Southern California was forecast to face more dangerous winds on Wednesday but could get some needed rain this weekend, dampening prospects of another round of deadly wildfires while raising the possibility of challenges like toxic ash runoff.

After killing at least nine people, the Palisades Fire continues to burn as residents remain under evacuation orders and warnings, with the next Santa Ana wind event continuing fire danger.

Southern California is bracing for another round of fire-fueling Santa Ana winds after a brief weekend reprieve from dangerous fire weather helped crews make more progress battling the

Santa Ana winds will continue whipping through Southern California through Thursday, sparking fears that progress made fighting wildfires that have scorched over 40,000 acres and left 28 dead could be reversed and more blazes could break out.

Powerful winds and bone-dry conditions could pose a challenge to firefighters battling new wildfires in southern California.