A beefed-up firefighting force was staged around Los Angeles to attack flare-ups or new blazes and anxious residents prepared for more fire danger as winds began to build Tuesday, a week after two massive infernos destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people.

The overwhelming flames of the Palisades Fire prompted some neighbors to take action. On Wednesday, two residents bypassed a security checkpoint to go save their properties and their neighbors. Christopher Jones used a pump rig he got years ago and drained water from neighbors' pools and Jacuzzis to spray water on the threatened homes.