Los Angeles: At least 11 lives have been lost, with concerns that the death toll may rise as rescue operations ramp up following catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles.
The fires, which began on Tuesday, have left communities in shock as they face the extensive destruction caused by the raging flames. Firefighters are working tirelessly to combat the fires, which have been fueled by strong winds earlier in the week, though those winds have since calmed. The disaster has already destroyed over 12,000 homes and structures within a densely populated area spanning 25 miles (40 km) north of downtown Los Angeles.
Residents like Michael, an accountant from Altadena where the Eaton Fire started, describe the experience as life-altering. He was evacuated just moments before his home was consumed by flames. “It feels like living through Armageddon,” he said, struggling to hold back tears. “We’ve lost everything.”
Nearly 150,000 residents are still under evacuation orders as the fires have scorched around 56 square miles (145 square kilometers) of land. With the region experiencing over eight months of drought, the extent of the damage has been significant. Fire crews are beginning to make headway in containing the blazes as conditions improve slightly.
In Malibu, officials reported the first death from the Palisades Fire on Thursday, with the cause still under investigation. Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart expressed deep sorrow, extending condolences to the victim’s family. “This tragedy weighs heavily on our hearts,” he stated.
Firefighters are currently tackling four major wildfires: the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, and Hurst Fire in Sylmar. While some progress has been made in controlling the Eaton Fire, strong winds reaching 100 km per hour continue to pose challenges for containing the Palisades Fire. Officials are hopeful that calmer weather will aid in containment efforts, although the National Weather Service has warned of critical fire weather conditions lasting through Friday night.