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.
Latest wildfire numbers: deaths, arrests, missing as 166,000 under evac orders
Los Angeles fire officials provided new details about the wildfires on Saturday afternoon, and revealed that 166,000 people are now under evacuation orders.
According to the fire officials, the death toll is still at 11 people. Eight deaths have been attributed to the Eaton fire, and three have been attributed to the Palisades fire. Police have arrested 22 people who were caught in restricted or otherwise off-limits areas during the fire response.
Thirteen people have been reported missing.
More than 10,000 structures have been damaged thus far during the fire, and another 57,000 are still at risk.
Watch live: Los Angeles County officials give wildfire update as fresh evacuation orders given
Here is why California can’t use ocean water to help fight the wildfires
Fire officials in Los Angeles have run into a serious snag while trying to contain the nearly half-dozen blazes threatening the city – questions about the water supply.
Wildfires currently cover more than 36,386 total acres of Los Angeles County. At least eleven people have died and more than 10,000 structures have been destroyed since the wildfires began. Governor Gavin Newsom told CNN on Wednesday that the county had “depleted all of our resources,” and that fire hydrants were completely tapped.
“Those hydrants are typical for two or three fires, maybe one fire. And then you have something at this scale,” he told Anderson Cooper.
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Disney pledges $15m to LA fire response and rebuilding after wildfires
Disney has pledged to give $15 million to help with the wildfire response and rebuilding efforts in Los Angeles.
The company will work through the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, among other organizations. Disney said the company’s history was “inextricably linked to the greater Los Angeles region.”
“Walt Disney came to Los Angeles with little more than his limitless imagination, and it was here that he chose to make his home, pursue his dreams, and create extraordinary storytelling that means so much to so many people around the world,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement. “We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need.”
WATCH: Melania Trump sends message to victims of deadly LA wildfires
Melania Trump sends message to victims of deadly LA wildfires
Melania Trump has sent a message of support to victims of the deadly LA wildfires. The future First Lady said she is praying for those impacted by the fires. In an interview with Fox News on Friday (10 January), she said: “It’s devastating. I’m thinking of those people and I’m praying for them. “So many people have lost their homes and I have a gentleman here on the crew working with me and he lost three homes.” At least 11 have been killed as officials continue to battle the stubborn blazes. There are six active large wildfires throughout Los Angeles County. The Palisades and Eaton fires are the most destructive in the state’s history.
Super Scooper fire fighting plane grounded after striking a drone
A Canadian Super Scooper fire fighting plane — the aircraft that scoop up and pour water onto flames during wildfires — was battling the fires in Southern California on Thursday when it hit a drone. The impact caused enough damage to the Super Scooper to force it down for repairs. The plane will remaind grounded until the damage is repaired, taking it fully out of the wildfire containment efforts.
The FAA told local broadcaster KTLA that it restricted the airspace above LA and that anyone caught disrupting firefighting efforts or flying their drones in restricted airspace could face fines and up to a year in prison if convicted. “The FAA treats these violations seriously and immediately considers swift enforcement action for these offenses,” the FAA said in a statement. “The FAA has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with the Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones in the [temporary flight restrictions.]”
Vets at West LA Medical Center evacuated from Community Living Center
Veterans living at the West Los Angeles Medical Center were evacuated on Friday as the Palisades Fire crept eastward.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs made the call after the fire began shifting into the Mandeville Canyon region, which prompted evacuation orders for communities near the medical center. The USDVA said in a statement that it was not under an evacuation warning when it pulled vets from the medical center, saying “out of an abundance of caution, the (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System has initiated the relocation of Veterans from the Community Living Center.” It’s unclear where the vets are being housed.
Latest containment numbers
A new containment report shows some progress has been made containing most of the ongoing Southern California wildfires. The Palisades Fire, the largest of the fires, is at 11 percent containment, up from 8 percent reported on Friday.
The Eaton Fire is at 15 percent containment, a massive leap from its last reported 3 percent containment.
The Kenneth Fire is at 80 percent containment, the Hurst Fire is at 76 percent containment, and the Lidia Fire is a 98 percent containment. Those fires rose from 50 percent, 70 percent, and 75 percent containment, respectively.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Brent Pascua told CNN early on Saturday that clamer winds were helping to keep the fires from growing and spreading, buying firefighters the time they need to contain the blazes.
Everything we know about man arrested near Kenneth blaze as LA wildfires rage
A man whom residents accused of wielding what appeared to be a “flamethrower” was arrested near the Kenneth fire that broke out in Los Angeles on Thursday night — but he’s not accused of starting any blazes, police confirmed Friday.
The Kenneth fire broke out north of the Palisades fire, threatening homes near Calabasas and Hidden Hills, and a Los Angeles Police Department official previously said they believed the blaze was started intentionally.
At a press conference on Friday morning, LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi gave an update and confirmed there was not enough probable cause to arrest the man on suspicion of arson. He was arrested on a felony probation violation, and the investigation is ongoing, he added.
The Department of Medical Examiner confirmed late on Thursday that the death toll from the blazes has now risen to 10, with nearly 10,000 structures devoured by flames, as five fires burned into a third night. READ MORE:
Source: independent.co.uk