LOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters have been working to contain the flames that have ravaged much of the city over the past week, killing two dozen people and destroying thousands of buildings. But they warned Monday that the fierce Santa Ana winds that fueled the flames were intensifying and could fuel a destructive continuation.

“We’re not in the clear yet,” Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said at a news conference. “We must not let our guard down.”

The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings from coastal Ventura County to the sprawling Los Angeles metropolitan area as it predicted wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour starting early Tuesday and continuing through Wednesday.

“Red Flag Warnings apply to the most extreme extreme fire weather scenarios. In other words, this situation is as bad as it gets,” the NWS said on X.

Asked if they were better prepared than when the fires broke out a week ago, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Moroni said, “We are absolutely better prepared.”

Last week, wind gusts in Santa Ana at times reached hurricane strength but then calmed somewhat over the weekend, giving local firefighters, aided by reinforcements from other states and even Mexico, a chance to battle the flames emerging from the dryness of tinder.

As of Monday morning, the Palisades Fire had burned nearly 24,000 acres and was 14% contained, and the Eaton Fire had burned over 14,000 acres and was 33% contained, California Gov. Gavin Newson said on X.

While 92,000 Los Angeles residents are still under evacuation orders and another 89,000 are in evacuation warning zones, those numbers are significantly lower than last week, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

But Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged residents to remain vigilant and be prepared to leave their homes and neighborhoods at any time if Santa Ana winds pick up again.

“If winds increase, please heed evacuation calls,” she said.

Firefighters have made progress on the Palisades Fire – although containment is at 14%, they have been able to contain its spread.

“We have also made significant progress in Topanga Oaks, Sylvia Park, Temescal Ridge to Mulholland – all of these areas were threatened and we continue to do so,” said L.A. County 3rd District Supervisor Lindsay P. Horvath.

Much of the city is still blanketed in smoky air, and Horvath advised residents to wear N95 masks when going outside and to close windows and doors in their homes and use air filters.

“Children and older adults, especially those with serious health complications, are particularly at risk,” Horvath said.

The worst fires in Los Angeles history broke out last week, sparking a massive and sometimes chaotic exodus as residents fled the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods, which were largely reduced to rubble within hours.