Over 10 people have died and thousands of structures destroyed as wildfires swept through Los Angeles, said US officials. Fast-moving flames, fuelled by dry winds, ripped through houses and businesses, forcing tens of thousands to flee smoke-choked canyons and neighbourhoods dotted with celebrity homes. Los Angeles County’s Medical Examiner said on Friday that the death toll has risen to ten. Five of the victims perished in the Eaton Fire, one of four large, active wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Officials fear the tally could increase as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
The Pacific Palisades blaze gutted the residential neighbourhood, sweeping through 200 acres. It was expanding, with firefighters struggling to contain it due to strong winds and fire hydrants running dry, according to the media reports. Over 5,000 structures in Pacific Palisades alone were damaged making it the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history. Nearly 27 square miles (70 square km) have burned in the coastal neighbourhood.
Nearly 180,000 people were under evacuation orders as of Thursday. Affluent neighbourhoods such as Calabasas, Santa Monica and West Hills were threatened by flames. Hollywood stars, including Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore, and Paris Hilton, were among those displaced. Fires have scorched about 45 square miles (117 square km) across Los Angeles county, equivalent to the size of San Francisco.
Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna described the devastation as resembling an atomic bomb dropped in these areas. More than 7,500 personnel, including firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency support staff, are working to combat the fires. California has deployed over 1,400 firefighting personnel, with additional teams sent from Oregon, Washington, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona
US President Joe Biden authorised federal resources and funding to combat the fires, calling them the worst fires to ever hit Los Angeles. The new funding will cover 100% of costs for hazardous materials removal, shelters, first responder salaries, and protective measures for 180 days. A technical error mistakenly sent evacuation warnings to millions of residents across Los Angeles County on Thursday afternoon, sparking panic before officials issued a correction. Private weather company AccuWeather estimated the economic damage and losses from the fires at $135 billion to $150 billion. Official government estimates are pending.
The fires were exacerbated by powerful Santa Ana winds that gusted to over 70 mph (112 kmph) in some areas. Although the winds have decreased, the National Weather Service warned that even reduced gusts could still spread fires rapidly.
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