CASTAIC, California, Jan 24 — Powerful winds and bone-dry conditions could pose a challenge to firefighters battling new wildfires in southern California, including a blaze that swelled over the past day and forced tens of thousands of evacuations north of Los Angeles.

MOSCOW, Jan 21 — Lead levels in the air in Los Angeles exceeded the norm by 100 times due to fires, while chlorine levels increased by 40 times, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti, citing The New York Times yesterday.