Los Angeles fire continues, death toll rises
California firefighters are actively battling the fire (photo: Getty Images)
In the suburbs of Los Angeles, firefighters continue to battle a blaze that has nearly completely destroyed the Pacific Palisades area. There is still a threat of the fire spreading due to strong winds, reports Reuters.
Firefighting planes are dropping water and fire retardants on the steep hills to halt the spread of the fire eastward in the Palisades. Ground crews have managed to save several homes.
As of Sunday morning, January 12, the disaster has claimed the lives of at least 14 people. At least 16 more are considered missing.
California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that he expects the death toll to rise.
"I've got search and rescue teams out. We've got cadaver dogs out and there's likely to be a lot more," he said in an interview with NBC.
Newsom stated that the fires are likely to become the worst natural disaster in US history in terms of just the costs associated with them.
According to firefighters, the fires have damaged or destroyed 12,000 buildings. By Sunday, more than 100,000 people in Los Angeles County were ordered to evacuate, while another 87,000 received evacuation warnings.
In the past 24 hours, the fire in Pacific Palisades spread an additional 1,000 acres (400 hectares), affecting more homes. Despite 11% of the fire in the area being contained, it has scorched over 22,000 acres (8,900 hectares).
Specifically, the fire has spread to Mandeville Canyon, the San Fernando Valley, and threatens to spread into Brentwood - an upscale area home to many celebrities. The flames have also come close to Interstate 405, which runs north to south.
Strongest wind is ahead
The National Weather Service has warned that stronger gusts, reaching up to 110 km/h, may return early next week. Local authorities have stated that the strongest winds are expected on Tuesday.
A red flag warning has been issued for Los Angeles and Ventura counties until Wednesday, January 15. Winds, combined with dry air and vegetation, will maintain fire-prone weather in the region. These conditions are expected to ease by Thursday.
Authorities have declared a public health emergency due to the thick, toxic smoke hanging over the city and the poor air quality, as the fires have raised traces of metals, plastics, and other synthetic materials into the air.
Meanwhile, there has been progress in restoring power in Los Angeles areas. Southern California Edison CEO Steven Powell reported that around 50,000 customers are still without power, down from more than half a million just a few days ago.
Massive wildfires in California
On January 7, six fires broke out simultaneously in several areas of Los Angeles. Within a few days, the total burn area grew to over 36,000 acres.
On January 8, California declared a state of emergency. US President Joe Biden canceled his trip to Italy due to the need to manage rescue operations.
Just overnight on Saturday, January 11, the fire spread another 1,000 acres.
