Los Angeles firefighters braced for a new round of intense winds Tuesday that could stoke two catastrophic wildfires that have already killed at least 24 people and destroyed entire neighborhoods. And an area the size of Washington, DC was scorched.
According to the National Weather Service, much of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties could see wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph Tuesday through Wednesday as dry Santa Ana winds blow after a relatively calm last week.
It declared a red flag warning, meaning conditions were dangerous and new fires could break out, fanning those already burning.
Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told local residents, “This setup is almost as bad as it is.” “We are not in the clear.”
Highlighting the risks, a small but fast-growing new fire broke out overnight in scrubland in the Santa Clara River bottom in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles.
Ground crews and several helicopters were working to contain the so-called Auto Fire, which had ravaged more than 56 acres and was burning near a golf course but was not yet a threat to homes.
In anticipation of the winds, more than 8,500 firefighters attacked the two largest wildfires from air and ground, with the goal of stopping them from spreading overnight.
State officials on Monday pre-deployed firefighters to Los Angeles and other Southern California counties that were at risk from the blaze.
The Palisades and Eaton fires broke out on the city’s western and eastern sides during last week’s high winds, but crews have made progress in containing them over the weekend.
At least 24 people have died in the fire, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Officials said the number was likely to rise as teams conducted door-to-door searches in burned areas.
The Eaton fire damaged the Altadena home of 63-year-old Lorraine Bryan and also destroyed two other residences on her property. She told Reuters she was concerned about replenishing the insulin needed to manage diabetes.
“I’m worried about insurance and rebuilding and getting back on my feet,” Brian said Monday, standing in the doorway of his burned home. “I need my medicine. I’m trying to see who can help us.”
apocalyptic scenario
The wildfires have destroyed or damaged more than 12,000 structures, turning entire neighborhoods into piles of smoldering ash and debris and creating an apocalyptic landscape.
As of Monday, more than 92,000 people were under evacuation orders in Los Angeles County — down from 150,000 — while another 89,000 faced evacuation warnings.
The Palisades Fire, which destroyed communities high on the west coast of Los Angeles, has burned 23,713 acres (96 km²) and is 14% contained.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported that the Eaton fire in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains east of the city had engulfed 14,117 acres (57 km²) and was 33% contained. .
The third fire, Hurst, covering 799 acres (3.2 km²), is 95% contained, while three other fires in the county have been completely contained in recent days.
Deaths and arrests
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said deputies were finding human remains every day in burned parts of Altadena.
“This is very serious work,” Luna said. He expressed hope that the death toll would increase in the coming days.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has said that this storm could be the most devastating natural disaster in American history. It is already the costliest wildfire in terms of insured losses.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Monday that 10 people have been arrested in connection with the fire. Nine were arrested for residential burglary in fire-affected areas. Another man was arrested on arson charges after allegedly attempting to set fire to a tree in the city of Azusa, about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of downtown Los Angeles.
US Senator Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, said on Monday that there is “a special place in hell” and prison for robbers.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was sued Monday over claims it failed to properly manage water supplies critical to fighting the deadly Palisades fire, a court filing revealed. The residents who sued alleged that the department should have maintained water in a nearby reservoir, which was dry when the fire first broke out last Tuesday.
Aid and politics
Announcing additional disaster aid for California, US President Joe Biden said, “Our hearts go out to the 24 innocent souls we have lost in the wildfires in Los Angeles.”
But top Republicans in the US Congress are considering imposing conditions on disaster aid, accusing the state’s Democratic leadership of mismanagement of water resources and forests.
California Governor Newsom and other top Democrats in the state have been harshly critical of the way the fires were handled.
President-elect Donald Trump plans to visit the disaster area after his inauguration next week, a source familiar with the matter said.
With thousands of homeowners facing rebuilding expenses, major commercial banks including JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America have announced plans to ease mortgage repayment terms for those affected. Insurers are looking at historical losses.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
