On Thursday, January 9, large-scale wildfires from both the east and west sides continued to ravage Los Angeles, with firefighters successfully repelling another fire threatening the Hollywood Hills area. Authorities stated at a press conference on Thursday morning that the fires had caused massive destruction, with some areas resembling “being bombed.”
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna stated on Thursday morning that the exact death toll from the wildfires is still unknown. About 180,000 people are still under evacuation orders.
Officials confirmed on Wednesday that the fires had already claimed the lives of at least 5 individuals. However, Luna mentioned during Thursday’s press briefing that the county sheriff’s department is working with the coroner’s office to “confirm these numbers.”
“This is a crisis, and we don’t know what’s going to happen. When you ask about the death toll, please be patient. … Honestly, right now we don’t know. We will eventually know,” Luna said.
“In the end, we will be able to conduct more thorough searches of the affected areas,” Sheriff Luna said. “Some areas look like they’ve been bombed, and we will be able to bring in police dogs and other equipment to assist us, hoping not to find too many fatalities. That’s our prayer.”
Luna anticipated that the death toll would rise, adding, “I hope I am wrong, but I believe it will increase.”
On Thursday, JPMorgan Chase released a report stating that the losses from this historic wildfire have surged to $50 billion and are still rising. It is estimated that insurance losses could exceed $20 billion.
The report indicated that the number of homes and structures at risk stands close to 15,000 so far, an increase from 13,000 on Wednesday. The Associated Press estimated that around 2,000 structures have already been destroyed.
Utility officials mentioned that around 95,000 customers in the Los Angeles area were still without power on Thursday.
Janisse Quiñones, CEO and Chief Engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, mentioned that crews have restored power to approximately 200,000 customers. She stated that 118 staff members are working around the clock for power restoration, with recovery times ranging from 24 to 48 hours. Additional personnel from Pacific Gas and Electric Company are expected to arrive on Thursday to provide support.
Due to equipment damage, arrival challenges, or active power safety shut-offs, residents in fire-affected areas or nearby may experience extended power outages, Quiñones pointed out.
She highlighted that reservoirs have been opened to assist with water supply issues. “The Hollywood Reservoir played a key role in our efforts to contain the Sunset Fire,” she said.
Mark Pestrella, Director of Public Works, mentioned that the county’s sewer, power, and transportation systems in Los Angeles have suffered “severe damage.”
He noted that these impacts stem from the heat brought by the fires, thousands of trees felled by strong winds, tree trunks on roads, and significant debris in communities affected by the fires.
Pestrella added that officials are collaborating with the City of Los Angeles to safely clear these properties and properties of debris, which are considered “hazardous or even toxic.”
“Touching the debris is unsafe, and clearing it yourself is not safe,” he said.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Luna stated on Thursday that nearly 180,000 residents in Los Angeles County are still under evacuation orders.
“As of now, nearly 180,000 residents in Los Angeles County have been issued evacuation orders, with about 200,000 residents receiving evacuation warnings,” he said.
Evacuation warnings advise residents to “be ready to leave at any moment.”
The sheriff emphasized the importance of residents following evacuation orders to avoid endangering the lives of law enforcement officers.
“I cannot overstate this enough – I urge residents who are asked to evacuate to heed our warnings,” he said.
On Thursday, Los Angeles City Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley stated that the Palisades Fire began on January 7 and had spread to 17,234 acres by Thursday morning, with a containment rate of zero.
“It is safe to say that the Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in Los Angeles history,” Crowley said.
She mentioned that the extreme fires continue to pose challenges for firefighting efforts in the Palisades area, with wind speeds expected to reach up to 60 miles per hour throughout the day.
Crowley stated that while the assessment of losses from the Palisades Fire is still ongoing, preliminary reports estimate that “thousands” of buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
She also mentioned that arson investigators are actively probing the cause of the Palisades Fire.
(This article is adapted from a report by CNN)