Return of strong winds to Los Angeles threatens area's fight against fires

The death toll from the wildfires in Los Angeles County has climbed to 25 people, according to the L.A. County Medical Examiner.

The medical examiner issued a correction just hours after it had announced a 25th victim. In its update, the office explained that what it had counted as an additional death from the Eaton Fire was determined to be non-human remains.

Shortly after, the medical examiner reported an additional death from the Palisades Fire, bringing the total back to 25.

The medical examiner says 16 deaths are linked to the Eaton Fire and nine are linked to the Palisades Fire.

ABC News contributed to this report.

FEMA opened two Disaster Recovery Centers on Tuesday to help people who experienced "damage to their primary home, personal property loss or have disaster-caused emergency needs related to the wildfires." FEMA said people will get help with applying for assistance, speak to representatives, get updates on their FEMA application and learn about the appeals process.

The centers are located at:

• UCLA Research Park West: 10850 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064 | Hours of operation - Daily: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Pasadena City College Community Education Center: 3035 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106 | Hours of operation - Daily: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"We've already had 40,000 people register, I think 8,000 people already received that $770. We put $8 million out already," Region 9 FEMA Administrator Robert J. Fenton, Jr. said.

Read more about applying for FEMA assistance here.

Fire agencies say the suppressants - most often used to fight forest fires - are an invaluable tool. But what is in them and are they safe?

Here's what to know:

Why are they being used in Los Angeles?

The fires are burning quickly through canyons and other rugged areas that are difficult for firefighters on the ground to reach, Cal Fire said.

While fire suppressants can be very effective, they do have limitations, the agency said: Strong winds can make it too dangerous to fly at the low altitudes needed for drops and can dissipate the retardant before it hits the ground.

Besides Cal Fire, multiple agencies have dropped fire retardant and water, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Los Angeles and Ventura county fire departments, the city and the National Guard.

How do they work?

Aerial fire suppressants are generally a mixture of water, ammonium phosphate - essentially fertilizer - and iron oxide, which is added to make the retardant visible, said Daniel McCurry, a civil and environmental engineering professor at the University of Southern California.

The Forest Service, which has used 13 aircraft to dump suppressants on the Los Angeles fires, says they help starve a fire of oxygen and slow the rate of burn by cooling and coating vegetation and other surfaces.

Perimeter, the company that supplies fire retardant to the Forest Service and other agencies, says the phosphate changes the way cellulose in plants decomposes and makes them non-flammable.

READ MORE | Pink flame retardants are being used to slow California fires. What do we know about them?

An Altadena family that lost their home in the Eaton Fire are among the many wildfire victims who say they have been victimized by illegal price gouging.

The Skidmore family quickly found refuge at an AirBNB in Pasadena this week after they were displaced by the Eaton Fire. They lost everything.

"My kids are great kids and they've grown up in that house and that was their place and they've lost their place," Warren Skidmore said. "They've lost their little havens they've made for themselves,"

While trying to find more permanent, long-term housing, they noticed the price of their temporary home Airbnb went up 43.2% for the following week. That would be illegal price gouging.

Under California law, during an emergency, businesses are only allowed to increase prices by up to 10 percent.

MORE | Altadena family who lost home in Eaton Fire says Airbnb price rises nearly 50% next week

One Altadena family who lost their home says Airbnb increased their short-term rental by 43.2%, which would be illegal price gouging.