January 11, 2025 11:47 AM.
In the US, at least 11 people have died in the devastating firestorms raging across Los Angeles County. According to preliminary numbers from state and local officials, more than thirteen thousand structures have been destroyed in the fires.
The sheriff’s department said, over one lakh people are under evacuation orders. At present four major wildfires are raging across the region.
The largest blaze, the Palisades fire between Santa Monica and Malibu, was 8 percent contained till yesterday. To the east, firefighters have contained 3 percent of the Eaton fire, near Altadena and Pasadena. Both fires now rank in the top five most destructive fires in California’s history.
California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered an inquiry into the county’s water management after reports emerged that a critical reservoir was offline when the fires started and that firefighters were left with dry hydrants as they battled blazes ripping through Los Angeles.
Media reports said, it is not clear what ignited the fires which erupted on Tuesday, and investigators will likely take months to come to any firm conclusions.
The fires have damaged nearly 10,000 structures, leaving entire neighborhoods unrecognizable. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna described the devastation as akin to an atomic bomb strike, saying, “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.”
With the fires continuing to blaze through the eastern and western flanks of Los Angeles, officials warn the death toll is likely to rise. While the cost of the damage hasn’t been officially released, private firms estimate it could soar to $135 billion to $150 billion.
Firefighters have made progress in some areas, gaining partial control over two wildfires—Palisades Fire is now 6% contained, while the Kenneth wildfire has reached 35% containment after scorching 960 acres across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Meanwhile, combined efforts in Hurst and Lidia have controlled 37% and 75% of the fires, respectively, over a total of 1,200 acres. However, conditions remain dire as red flag warnings persist across Los Angeles and parts of Southern California. Gusts exceeding 160 kmph earlier this week briefly subsided, allowing rescue teams to dump water from helicopters, but winds picked up again Thursday night.
Over 100,000 homes and businesses remain without power. Schools in affected areas are shut, leaving communities in chaos. Sunset Fire, which had burned dangerously close to Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame, was fully contained Wednesday night, but the threat of new fires looms large.
Authorities detained a man on suspicion of arson related to the Kenneth wildfire, though conclusive evidence is yet to emerge. In the chaos, 20 individuals have been arrested for looting in evacuation zones. Sheriff Luna announced efforts to enforce curfews with assistance from the California National Guard to protect vulnerable areas.