Firefighters on Wednesday confronted persistently strong and dry winds fueling two giant wildfires that have terrified Los Angeles for eight days, testing the resolve of a city upended by the worst disaster in its history.

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER, JULIE WATSON and JOHN SEEWER LOS ANGELES (AP) — A beefed-up firefighting force was staged around Los Angeles to attack flare-ups or new blazes and anxious residents

The National Weather Service warns to “stay on guard for a fast-moving fire,” as winds may challenge containment efforts. Follow live updates on the Palisades, Eaton and other fires.

Millions of Southern Californians nervously kept watch as winds began picking up Wednesday during a final round of dangerous wildfire weather forecast for the region where two massive blazes have killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes.

Firefighters reported significant gains against the two massive wildfires burning around Los Angeles while also extinguishing smaller blazes set by arsonists. The progress was reported Wednesday as a

LA County’s fire chief says crews are better prepared but warns that everyone in the potential fire zones should be ready to evacuate.

Weary and anxious from a week of massive blazes burning around Los Angeles, Southern California residents faced dire new wildfire warnings Tuesday while preparing to flee at a moment's notice as fire-fueling winds blasted the area again.