Los Angeles wildfires have so far claimed the lives of at least 25 people. The Palisades fire and the Eaton Fire continue to rage on. On Wednesday, over 6 million people in several counties in Southern California are facing severe threats from the fires.
According to reports from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, both the Eaton Fire and Palisades fire have become the most destructive and second most destructive wildfires in Southern California’s history, respectively.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office stated that the fires have resulted in at least 25 fatalities, with 17 deaths from the Eaton Fire and 8 deaths from the Palisades fire. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna mentioned on Tuesday, January 14th, that the death toll could rise as nearly 30 people are still missing. However, the number of people affected by evacuation orders has halved from the previous week, with less than 90,000 individuals currently involved.
Weather forecasts indicate that winds in the Los Angeles area will strengthen from late Tuesday into Wednesday, exacerbating the challenges faced by firefighters. Exhausted and anxious residents have been advised to be prepared for evacuation at a moment’s notice, remaining vigilant by closely monitoring the skies and each other.
Authorities have announced the arrest of about 50 individuals on charges including looting, flying drones in fire zones, violating curfew, and other criminal activities.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell stated that three individuals were arrested on suspicion of arson after being seen setting small fires, which were promptly extinguished. One of them was using a barbecue lighter, another ignited a brush, and the third attempted to set a trash can ablaze. All these incidents occurred far from the disaster area. The cause of the major Los Angeles fires has yet to be determined by authorities.
On Wednesday, several counties in Southern California faced severe wildfire threats, including cities outside of Los Angeles County such as Anaheim in Orange County, Riverside in Riverside County, San Bernardino in San Bernardino County, and Oxnard in Ventura County.
On Wednesday morning, portions of Los Angeles County and Ventura County were under a “red flag warning,” indicating particularly dangerous fire conditions. Additionally, authorities issued dust and ash warnings effective until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, impacting 17 million residents. Health officials advised residents in affected areas to wear appropriate respiratory masks to prevent potential health issues.
The winds on Tuesday were not as strong as anticipated, providing firefighters with a slight reprieve. Progress has been made in extinguishing two major wildfires in the Los Angeles area and quickly putting out several new fires.
As of 7:16 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, the Palisades fire had scorched 23,713 acres of land with a containment rate of only 18%; the Eaton Fire had burned 14,117 acres with a 35% containment rate; the Hurst Fire had burned 799 acres with a 97% containment rate; and the Auto Fire had burned 61 acres with a 47% containment rate.
More than 77,000 households experienced power outages, as utility companies shut off power to prevent lines from sparking new fires.
From Wednesday night into Thursday, winds are expected to diminish, which is good news for firefighting operations.
“The good news is we see a light at the end of the tunnel. As we approach the weekend, more favorable conditions are expected,” an official stated.
(This article was referenced from reports by CNN and the Associated Press)