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Wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed at least 16 lives and led to the destruction of around 12,000 buildings, continuing to rage for five consecutive nights.
The Palisades Fire, which has burned 23,000 acres between Santa Monica and Malibu, along with the Eaton Fire east of the city near Pasadena, are now among the most devastating fires in the history of Los Angeles, having scorched over 53 square miles and reduced whole communities to rubble.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, the fatalities have reached 16, a figure officials believe may rise as the situation evolves. Wildfires have devastated more than 39,000 acres across Southern California at this time.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna described the scene, stating, “It looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas. I don’t expect good news, and we’re not looking forward to those numbers.”
A building in Altadena is engulfed in flames as wildfires sweep across much of the Los Angeles area. If not contained, these fires could expand further.
Damage estimates from forecaster AccuWeather point toward economic losses between $135 billion and $150 billion, signaling a challenging recovery ahead and a significant increase in homeowners’ insurance rates.
In response to the crisis, President Joe Biden declared a major disaster on Tuesday, ensuring federal funding to cover 100 percent of recovery costs for the next 180 days, including debris removal, temporary housing, and first responder expenses.
Current Fire Locations
Mapped: Los Angeles wildfires (Datawrapper/ The Independent)
Currently, six wildfires are active in Los Angeles County, with the Palisades fire only 11 percent contained and the Eaton fire at 15 percent containment as of Saturday afternoon. Air support has been deployed to combat the flames.
The L.A. County Fire Department reported that a Super Scooper aircraft from Canada was grounded due to damage from a civilian drone while trying to combat the Palisades fire; fortunately, there were no injuries resulting from the incident.
One blaze, known as the Kenneth Fire, ignited on Thursday near Calabasas. This area, known for its affluence and celebrity residents, saw the fire expand to over 1,052 acres in just hours.
The Eaton Fire is believed to have damaged or destroyed between 4,000 and 5,000 structures, while the Palisades Fire affected approximately 5,300 buildings.
In the Pacific Palisades area, some residents returned to assess the damage, finding brick chimneys still standing amid charred debris and incinerated vehicles.
Fortunately, wind speeds decreased on Thursday, easing firefighting efforts by enhancing aerial support.
Firefighting teams successfully brought the Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills under control after it had threatened the iconic Walk of Fame.
Potential Spread of the Fires
AccuWeather predicts that winds on Friday will be less fierce compared to the earlier week. However, gusts could still reach 40 to 50 miles per hour in certain Southern California regions.
Looking ahead, offshore winds may intensify again on Sunday as another low-pressure system approaches from the south.
Weather forecasts indicate that Santa Ana winds will likely strengthen early next week, as reported by The Weather Channel. Los Angeles County is currently under a red flag warning, which signals elevated fire risks, at least until Friday evening.
AccuWeather forecasts predict wind gusts could reach 40 to 60 mph starting from Monday through Tuesday night.
As Jonathan Porter, Chief Meteorologist at AccuWeather, highlighted, the ongoing wildfire disaster in Southern California contributes to a pattern of multi-billion-dollar weather disasters in the U.S. that tax both state and federal emergency services.
“Many regions globally face serious impacts due to climate change and evolving weather patterns. California stands at the forefront of climate change in the United States, and this tragic event represents yet another in a series of devastating extreme weather occurrences resulting in immense financial losses,” Porter stated.
Evacuation Orders in Los Angeles County
Causes of the Wildfires
The rapidly spreading wildfires are primarily fueled by the Santa Ana winds, a notable weather phenomenon.
These winds are characterized as dry, warm, and gusty, originating from areas in Nevada and Utah, moving towards Southern California and the coast. They operate contrary to the usual onshore winds that typically bring moisture from the Pacific Ocean.
The name “Santa Ana winds” is derived from the canyon of the same name in Orange County, but they are also referred to by other monikers, including “devil winds” or “red wind.”
Source
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