Three new wildfires have started in southern California since Monday as dry conditions and destructive winds continued to create a high fire risk in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. At least 24 people have been killed in the disaster and dozens more are missing.

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.”