At least five fatalities reported as wildfires sweep through districts in Los Angeles
At least five fatalities have been reported as uncontained wildfires continue to sweep through Southern California, engulfing neighborhoods in the greater Los Angeles area. The fires began three days ago and show no sign of abating.
Raging wildfires have prompted the evacuation of approximately 180,000 residents, while an additional 200,000 individuals remain under evacuation warnings, according to authorities.
Catastrophic wildfires persist around Los Angeles, having destroyed over 1,500 properties to date, as they continued to blaze on Thursday. Firefighters are grappling with efforts to contain the fires three days after they ignited, driven by strong winds coursing through the mountainous regions and foothills.
“This blaze represents a significant event in terms of scale,” stated Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who is currently facing criticism for her handling of the crisis and recent budget reductions to the Fire Department.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, commonly known as Cal Fire, reports that Los Angeles County is presently contending with five ongoing wildfires.
The Palisades Fire, currently the most extensive blaze in the region, has consumed over 17,200 acres in Pacific Palisades and led to the destruction of more than 300 structures since it began on Tuesday. Approximately 800 firefighters have been deployed in efforts to contain the conflagration. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire, burning near Pasadena, has tragically resulted in five fatalities and has razed 10,600 acres.
The Sunset Fire, which ignited Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, has consumed approximately 60 acres. Meanwhile, the Lidia Fire in Antelope Valley, active since Wednesday afternoon, has scorched 348 acres and is currently 40 percent contained. In San Fernando, the Hurst Fire continues to burn intensely, having spread across 855 acres with containment efforts at 10 percent.
After a temporary reprieve following the calming of the high winds that exacerbated the fires, a fresh bout of gusts, reaching speeds of up to 60 mph, is forecasted to intensify from late Thursday through Friday.
