Wildfires in Los Angeles: 10 Dead, Thousands Displaced, and Communities in Ruins
Massive wildfires have devastated neighborhoods in Los Angeles, leaving at least 10 people dead and thousands displaced, according to authorities. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced the rising death toll late Thursday as large parts of the city lay in ruins.
Firefighters worked through the night, using water-dropping helicopters during a temporary break in the winds, but new fires continued to ignite.
Concerns about looting prompted Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna to impose a nighttime curfew. The California National Guard was also deployed to patrol affected areas. Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized the state’s commitment to protecting communities and warned against looting.
Sheriff Luna assured residents that officers monitored evacuation zones and would arrest trespassers. However, some evacuees, worried about the vastness of the affected areas, took matters into their own hands. Nicholas Norman, for instance, kept watch over his home with a shotgun after spotting suspicious activity at night.
Widespread Damage
The largest wildfire has burned nearly 20,000 acres in the Pacific Palisades area, while another blaze in Altadena has consumed 13,700 acres.
Firefighters have managed to contain about six percent of the Pacific Palisades fire, but strong winds are returning, and new fires are sparking. On Thursday, a fire near Calabasas and Hidden Hills, home to celebrities like Kim Kardashian, grew rapidly, forcing more evacuations. Over 180,000 people have now been displaced.
President Joe Biden pledged additional federal aid, calling the fires “the most devastating in California’s history.”
While calmer winds have allowed firefighting aircraft to operate, one plane was grounded after colliding with a drone. Authorities warned that flying drones in fire zones could result in jail time.
Evacuees returning home have encountered heartbreaking scenes. Kalen Astoor, a paralegal, found her mother’s home intact, but many others in the area were reduced to ashes.
“The view now is one of death and destruction,” she said.
High-Profile Losses
An aerial survey of Pacific Palisades and Malibu revealed immense damage. Many luxury homes and iconic Malibu properties were reduced to rubble, with some seemingly swept into the ocean.
Roads once lined with homes now resemble graveyards. Across the area, schools were closed, power outages affected hundreds of thousands, and major events, including an NFL playoff game, were either canceled or relocated.
Ongoing Threat
Meteorologists warn that windy, dry conditions could continue to fuel fires. The National Weather Service cautioned that “significant fire growth” remains a risk.
Wildfires are a natural phenomenon, but scientists believe human-driven climate change worsens their intensity. Southern California’s recent dry year, following two wet ones has left plenty of dry vegetation ready to burn.
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