Fresh evacuation orders have been given to new areas of Los Angeles after the largest wildfire blaze shifted in another direction.
On Friday night, reports that the Palisades Fire on the city’s western edge was heading in a new direction prompted fresh evacuation orders for much of the Brentwood neighborhood and the foothills of the San Fernando Valley.
“The Palisades fire has got a new significant flare-up on the eastern portion and continues to move northeast,” LA Fire Department Captain Erik Scott told local station KTLA, according to a report on the LA Times website.
The latest evacuations come after California Governor Gavin Newsom called for an investigation into the county’s fire hydrants and other water failures.
Some hydrants in the Palisades were unusable earlier this week and reservoir water was reportedly not available, impairing the effort to protect homes. Newsom has called on county officials to investigate the matter and compile a report.
There are six active large wildfires throughout Los Angeles County. The Palisades and Eaton fires are the most destructive in the state’s history. The Palisades fire is at 11 percent containment and the Eaton fire is at 15 percent as of Saturday morning.
At least 11 have been killed as officials continue to battle the stubborn blazes.
Governor issues statement dispelling “misinformation”
California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement dispelling what he called misinformation surrounding California’s firefighting efforts.
“A lot of misinformation out there. Just launched a new site to ensure the public has access to fact-based data around the Southern CA wildfires. The TRUTH: CA did NOT cut our firefighting budget. We have nearly doubled the size of our firefighting army and built the world’s largest aerial firefighting fleet. CA has INCREASED forest management ten-fold since we took office. California will NOT allow for looting,” he wrote in a post on X.
Since the wildfires broke out, some conservatives — including lawmakers — have used the disaster to attack the Democratic state government and Los Angeles city officials.
Fire death toll rises to 13, sheriff’s office says
The death toll in the Los Angeles wildfires has grown to 13, according to the LA County Sheriff’s Office.
LA County Sheriff’s officials said the two new deaths were connected to the Eaton fire. Thus far, there are eight deaths attributed to the Eaton fire and five attributed to the Palisades fire.
In addition to those killed, the sheriff’s office said 13 people have been reported missing.
Previously there were 11 confirmed deaths connected to the fires.
Fire stats as of Saturday afternoon
Here is the state of the Los Angeles wildfires as of Saturday afternoon according to Cal Fire data:
The Palisades fire has burned 22,669 acres and is 11 percent contained.
The Eaton fire has burned 14,117 acres and is 15 percent contained.
The Kenneth fire has burned 1,052 acres and is 80 percent contained.
The Hurst fire has burned 799 acres, and is 76 percent contained.
Firefighters in LA are scrambling to gain as much ground on the fires as possible before high winds threaten to refuel and spread the wildfires early next week.
UCLA to hold online classes until January 17 in response to wildfires
UCLA announced on Saturday it will be holding class online for undergrads and graduate sutdents until January 17 due to the ongoing instability caused by the wildfires in the area.
The university sent out an email to students on Saturday saying that the “community’s safety and wellness” is its top priority.
“We ask for continued flexibility and understanding as we all work through these difficult times,” the email said.
Students were told to expect further instructions from the school in follow-up emails.
UCLA was on alert on Saturday as wildfires in the area prompted evacuation orders for neighborhoods near the university.
LA was sitting on a powder keg ripe for a fire after months of drought. Then it was lit
Southern California had faced drought for months, which helped create the right conditions for a massive fire. Then the Santa Ana wings moved in, and forecasters warned that settings were “about as bad as it gets in terms of fire weather.”
This week, that environmental spark was lit and Los Angeles burned.
Los Angeles has faced days of wildfires that have torn through communities, leaving 10 dead and unimaginable scenes of destruction. An award-winning author has shared with The Independent how the conditions had been forming for months and led to the spate of wildfires.
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World Central Kitchen helping firefighters in Los Angeles
Chef Jose Andreas’ World Central Kitchen nonprofit is supporting firefighters as they continue to battle wildfires in Los Angeles.
“This is as devastating as you can see, we’ve seen it before, fires like this,” Andres said in a video posted on X.
World Central Kitchen volunteers help provide food during disasters around the world.
He implored the federal government to help the victims of the fires rebuild, and for the public not to forget about those affected in the aftermath of the fires.
“We need to make sure that when the cameras are off and we are all in the crazy daily life where we forget about events like this, we cannot forget people,” he said.
Matthew Perry’s LA home where he died saved by neighbors amid Palisades fire
Matthew Perry’s former Pacific Palisades home, where he tragically died from a ketamine overdose in 2023, has miraculously survived the devastating wildfires raging through the city of Los Angeles.
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom property, located in the affluent coastal neighborhood west of L.A., survived the catastrophic Palisades fire that has gone on to burn more than 22,661 acres, the home’s new owner has confirmed on Instagram.
“It’s hard to put into words how devastated we feel. It’s been such a tough week, but we are incredibly thankful to have learned that our house is okay,” wrote Anita Verma-Lallian, a real estate developer and film producer, who purchased Perry’s estate last October for $8.5 million.
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California governor doubles National Guard presence in LA as wildfires continue to rage
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Saturday he is doubling the number of National Guard members deployed to the Los Angeles area.
In total, 1,680 National Guard members will be in the area to “help fight the Los Angeles fires” and to maintain order in the affected communities.
“We are grateful for their continued bravery and commitment to be of service to others,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
What we know about those who’ve died in the LA fires thus far
Anthony and Justin Mitchell Anthony Mitchell and his son, Justin, reportedly died in Altadena due to the Eaton fire. One of the 67-year-old’s children, Justin, had cerebral palsy and did not walk. Anthony Mitchell was an amputee and used a wheelchair to get around.
His son, also named Anthony, told NBC News that his father likely could have escaped their home himself, but would never have left his son Justin alone.
The father was found dead next to Justin’s bed. Justin also died due to the fire.
Erliene Louise Kelly
Kelly chose not to evacuate when the Eaton fire neared her home in Altadena. She was killed on Thursday evening when the fire overtook her home.
Victor Shaw
Shaw chose to stay behind and attempt to fight the fire at his Altadena home. He was found dead with a garden house in his hand just outside him home.
Rodney Kent Nickerson
Nickerson’s daughter told KCAL that her father said he would be fine, and chsoe to stay behind at his home in Altadena. She last heard from him while he was spraying water around his property as the Eaton fire neared.
Rory Sykes
A former Australian child star, Sykes died after he was unable to be rescued from a cottage he lived inside on his mother’s property in Malibu. The cottage caught fire and his mother was unable to reach him before the building was engulfed in flames.
Sykes had cerebral palsy and was unable to evacuate himself from the cottage.
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Texas sends resources to assist California wildfire fighting efforts
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Saturday he would send firefighting resources to assist with the fire response efforts in California.
The state will send more than 135 firefighters, emergency, and medical responders, as well as 45 vehicles including fire engines, ambulances, command vehicles and equipments, according to a Texas press release.
“Texans know all too well the devastation wildfires can cause to our communities, and our country is stronger when we come together in times of crisis,” Abbott said in a statement.
Source: independent.co.uk