California wildfires stay updates: LA fires trigger intensive injury as some communities look ‘like a bomb was dropped’
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At least seven people have been killed and countless others injured as fast-moving wildfires have torn across Los Angeles, leaving thousands of firefighters attempting to extinguish the blaze.
Officials said Thursday that while progress had been made on the Sunset, Woodley, Hurst and Sunswept Fires, more “extreme fire behavior” and wind gusts up to 60mph are continuing to challenge firefighting efforts.
Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said fire-ravaged neighborhoods in west L.A. “look like a bomb was dropped in them.”
The Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive natural disasters the city has seen, is still not contained. The fire has burned at least 19,059 acres, while the Altadena and Pasadena-based Eaton fire has scorched some 13,690 acres.
Another fire, the Kenneth Fire, broke out north of the Palisades fire on Thursday afternoon, threatening homes near Calabasas and Hidden Hills.
The causes of all of the wildfires are under active investigation, but thousands of buildings and businesses have been destroyed.
Numerous California customers remained without power on Thursday, with roughly 863,000 outages in Los Angeles County and another 857,000 or so in neighboring San Bernadino County, according to tracker PowerOutage.us.
L.A. fires death toll rises to seven: report
A second person has died in the Palisades Fire, CNN reports, bringing the estimated death toll from the L.A. fires to seven.
Here’s what we know about the victims.
Fire meteorologist predicts ‘last uptick’ in winds before ‘very calm’ conditions
The powerful Santa Ana winds that helped spread the fires burning around Los Angeles are expected to briefly pick back up overnight, before leveling off later in the week, according to a Cal Fire meteorologist.
“When the [Palisades] fire broke out, the area was under an extremely strong Santa Ana wind event and strong red flag conditions,” Rich Thompson said during a community briefing on Thursday, noting winds could reach 30 to 45 mph.
There will be “one last little uptick” in the Santa Anas overnight, and continued red flag conditions indicating high fire danger until 6 p.m. tomorrow evening, Thompson said.
Later in the week, an onshore sea breeze and “very calm, very quiet” conditions are expected.
Unfortunately, powerful winds will return by Sunday and extend into next week.
What to know about the new Kenneth Fire
Firefighters are battling a new fire on the outskirts of Los Angeles.
The Kenneth Fire began around 3:30 p.m. and has now burned 960 acres near the Los Angeles-Ventura County line, according to Cal Fire.
“Fanned by strong Santa Ana winds, the fire threatens nearby communities and infrastructure, prompting swift evacuation orders,” the agency wrote on its website. “Firefighters from Los Angeles and Ventura counties are actively engaged in containment efforts, deploying both ground crews and aerial resources.”
The blaze is burning near the Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve, threatening homes in the nearby communities of Hidden Hills, Woodland Hills, and West Hills, according to the Los Angeles Times.
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced 900 firefighters would be deployed to fight the Kenneth Fire.
Harris cancels foreign trip as fires rage in Los Angeles
Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff have canceled an upcoming foreign trip as fires rage in Los Angeles, Harris’s office said.
“In response to the historic wildfires in Los Angeles, the Vice President has made the decision to cancel her and the Second Gentleman’s upcoming trip to Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany,” it wrote in a statement. “She will remain in the United States to support the federal response in California.”
How California firefighters stopped the Sunset Fire
In a rare bit of good news, fire crews were able to contain the Sunset Fire to just 43 acres, as other blazes rage across Los Angeles.
Here’s how it went down, according to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Numerous L.A. residents received mistaken evacuation alert
In addition to the very real threat of the multiple fires converging on L.A., Angelenos on Thursday also had to deal with a fake evacuation alert.
“I have been informed the evacuation warning that many of us just received on our phones was mistakenly issued countywide due to a technical error,” L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn confirmed on Thursday.
Cal Fire encouraged by lower winds
A Cal Fire official said Thursday the agency got a “great” pause in high winds to launch further fire-fighting efforts, relaxed weather conditions that may continue through the night.
“We’re optimistic about tonight,” battalion chief Brent Pascua told CNN. “We’re not going to see those 80 mph winds that are knocking over trees.”
Death toll ‘will rise’ in coming days: sheriff
At least six people have died so far in the Los Angeles fires, but that figure could rise in the coming days, according to officials.
“I think the death toll will rise,” L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a Thursday new conference. “I hope I’m wrong.”
The six deaths represent a likely undercount.
“Right now, frankly, we don’t know yet,” he added.
Beyoncé’s mother loses Malibu house in fires: ‘It was my favorite place’
Tina Knowles, mother of pop star Beyoncé, is one of many notable people around the L.A. area who have lost their homes in the recent fires.
“It was my favorite place, my sanctuary , my sacred Happy Place,” Knowles wrote on Instagram, sharing a tranquil video of the view from before her Malibu bungalow burned down. “Now it is gone.”
“This could have been so much worse with out the dedication of the disaster workers and first responders,” she added. “I’m so sad for the people who lost the five family members. My deepest Prayers are with you !!!!!!”
Source: independent.co.uk
