Los Angeles Fire Department officials chose not to order 1,000 available firefighters to remain on duty for a second shift last Tuesday in the Palisades to aid in battling wildfires, according to records .

At least 24 people have died and more than a dozen others remain unaccounted for as multiple wildfires, fueled by severe drought conditions and strong winds, rage across the Los Angeles area. Thousands of firefighters are battling wildfires across 45 square miles of densely populated Los Angeles County.