Devastating wildfires, fueled by severe winds and dry conditions, tore through parts of north and northwest Los Angeles on Wednesday, leaving two dead and more than 1,000 homes, businesses, and other structures in ruins.
The Palisades Fire, which started Tuesday, remains the largest blaze, consuming over 3,000 acres as it spreads across the Pacific Palisades neighborhood along the coast. It is being closely followed by three other fires—the Eaton, Hurst, and Woodley fires—which have burned nearly 3,000 additional acres to the north and northeast of the Palisades Fire.
The Eaton Fire, the largest among the three smaller blazes, has scorched 2,227 acres. The Hurst Fire has burned more than 500 acres, while the Woodley Fire has consumed 75 acres.
None of the fires are currently contained, and firefighting efforts have been severely hindered as strong winds have grounded aircraft normally used for aerial support.
The National Weather Service has continued to issue warnings, alerting residents to a “life-threatening and destructive windstorm” combined with high temperatures and extremely low humidity, all of which elevate the fire danger in the area. A red flag warning remains in place, along with a high-wind warning until 6 p.m. local time (0200 GMT).
More than 70,000 people in Los Angeles have been ordered to evacuate, officials confirmed during a press briefing.
“We want to make sure that everybody understands we are absolutely not out of danger yet with the strong winds that continue to push through the city and the county today,” said Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley. “Our first responders, our firefighters will remain focused on protecting lives and property.”
In response to the escalating situation, President Joe Biden has authorized the deployment of four U.S. Forest Service Large Air Tankers, with another on its way, as well as 10 federal firefighting helicopters to assist in battling the flames. Additionally, dozens of Forest Service fire trucks have been prepositioned to support ground efforts.
Biden is expected to visit a fire station in Santa Monica, just south of where the Palisades Fire continues to rage, for a briefing with state fire officials. (Anadolu)
