Los Angeles, January 12 – Firefighters worked tirelessly to control two wildfires in Los Angeles that continued to burn for a sixth consecutive day on Sunday. They took advantage of a brief break in dangerous conditions before expecting high winds to reignite the flames.
California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that at least 24 people have died, making this one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. The fires have destroyed thousands of homes and displaced 100,000 residents.
Flames have left entire neighborhoods in ruins, affecting both wealthy and ordinary residents. Officials reported damage to 12,300 structures.
“L.A. County had another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said.
Aerial firefighters dropped water from planes, while ground crews used hand tools and hoses to combat the Palisades Fire as it threatened the upscale Brentwood area and other populated spots in Los Angeles.
The Palisades Fire has consumed 23,713 acres (96 sq km) or 37 square miles and is currently only 11% contained. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire has scorched 14,117 acres (57 sq km) or 22 square miles and is now 27% contained, an increase from 15% the previous day.
The Hurst Fire, located north of the city, is 89% contained. Additionally, three other fires in the county have reached 100% containment, as reported by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). However, fires may still be burning within the containment lines.
STRONG WINDS RETURN
Firefighters received temporary relief from severe weather conditions over the weekend. Santa Ana winds, which had previously reached hurricane strength, subsided. These dry winds from the inland deserts had spread flames and blew embers up to 2 miles (3 km) ahead of the fires.
However, the National Weather Service forecasted the return of Santa Ana winds at speeds of 50 to 70 miles per hour (80 to 112 kph) on Sunday night, expected to last until Wednesday.
Officials alerted the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County that evacuations could be ordered at any time due to the flames and toxic smoke.
By Sunday, over 100,000 residents had received evacuation orders, down from a previous high of over 150,000. An additional 87,000 people faced evacuation warnings.
“These winds combined with low relative humidities and low fuel moistures will keep the fire threat in all of Los Angeles County very high,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said in a press conference. He added that areas under evacuation might remain closed until “red flag” conditions are lifted on Thursday.
Despite the dangers, schools outside mandatory evacuation zones plan to reopen on Monday. This follows closures affecting all 429,000 students in the Los Angeles Unified School District on Thursday and Friday, as announced by Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
Newsom commented to NBC News that the fires could be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history in terms of associated costs. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner reported 24 fatalities due to the fires.
According to private forecaster AccuWeather, the damage and economic losses could range from $135 billion to $150 billion.
To facilitate the rebuilding process, Newsom signed an executive order on Sunday to temporarily suspend environmental regulations for destroyed homes and businesses.
Active duty military personnel stand ready to assist in firefighting efforts, as stated by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell in several Sunday television interviews. She also urged residents to start filing for disaster relief.
Firefighters from seven states, Canada, and Mexico are already assisting local fire departments.
ELEVATED STRESS
In Altadena, near the Eaton Fire, Tristin Perez chose not to evacuate his home, defying police orders as the fire advanced.
Instead, he attempted to protect his property and help save his neighbors’ homes.
“Your front yard is on fire, palm trees lit up – it looked like something out of a movie,” Perez told Reuters while standing in his driveway.
He did manage to save his one-story yellow duplex, along with two neighboring homes, while entire houses across the street were destroyed.
“A lot of these areas still look like they were hit by a bomb. There are live electrical wires, gas lines, and other hazards,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna remarked.
Zuzana Korda was evacuated from her home in the Fernwood neighborhood in Topanga, northwest of Los Angeles. While waiting outside a temporary assistance office at the West Hollywood Public Library, she shared that her landlord informed her the family home was still standing, but she felt anxious.
“We’ve left everything behind. We have no insurance,” Korda said. “We stand to lose everything.”
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