Fire conditions in Southern California are entering a critical period Sunday as the Santa Ana winds that helped fuel the fires last week were expected to return.

What to know about the California wildfires
The Santa Ana winds are expected to strengthen today, after a brief reprieve yesterday, with gusts of 30 to 50 mph in coastal areas, and up to 70 mph in the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

The wind-fed wildfires have killed at least 16 people and swept through 40,000 acres in the greater Los Angeles area, destroying entire communities and more than 12,300 structures.
Evacuation orders for the largest blaze, the Palisades Fire, have expanded as it sweeps east and threatens Brentwood, Encino and Westwood. It is 11% contained.

At least 153,000 L.A. residents were under evacuation orders overnight. See a map of the evacuation zone here. More than 40,000 customers in L.A. County were without power Sunday morning.

Los Angeles County declared a public health emergency, warning that smoke and particulate matter could pose immediate and long-term threats.