Forecasters warn that dangerous winds will buffet Southern California for at least two more days as new wildfires broke out and a pair of major Los Angeles-area blazes burned for a third week.

Forecasters said the current stretch of strong winds could be almost over, offering a potential reprieve to firefighters.

LOS ANGELES -- Additional water tankers and scores of firefighters arrived at the Los Angeles area on Monday ahead of fierce winds that were forecast to return and threaten the progress made so far on two massive infernos that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.

Containing wildfires—never mind extinguishing them—in parched and windy conditions can be monstrously difficult. Dry vegetation is rocket fuel for blazes and wind both feeds the flames and spreads the embers. “The winds are like pointing an air blower at a fireplace,” says Gershunov, “except it’s not contained and it’s on a much larger scale.”

By Rich McKay (Reuters) -California firefighters could make more headway in containing three major wildfires burning in and around Los Angeles on Friday, as the latest round of blistering winds dissipates and the area's first rainfall in months arrives over the weekend.

A new wildfire was reported today at 12:02 a.m. in Los Angeles County. The wildfire has been burning on private land. There is no information on the containment of the fire and its cause remains unknown.

Hughes fire