LOS ANGELES (AP) — Exhausted and on edge after a week of massive wildfires raging around Los Angeles, Southern California residents were confronted with dire new warnings on Tuesday and readied themselves to evacuate at a moment’s notice as strong winds fueled the flames. The dangerous winds, forecasted to reach near hurricane-force levels in certain areas, were expected to peak on Tuesday morning. An increased firefighting presence was in position to tackle any flare-ups or new fires. A week after the initial fires ignited, thousands of homes have been destroyed and at least 24 individuals have lost their lives. Residents packed up their pets and family keepsakes in preparation for a potential rapid departure. Tabitha Trosen expressed her constant fear that her neighborhood could be next, saying, “Our cats are all set to go. We have their carriers ready by the door with their favorite stuffed animals and belongings.” The ongoing disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people. Nine individuals have been arrested for looting, including a group that stole an Emmy award from an evacuated home, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. Dry winds reaching up to 50 mph (80 kph) blew across the LA mountains early on Tuesday, as reported by meteorologist Todd Hall of the National Weather Service. These strong winds were anticipated to persist through midday Wednesday and could carry fire-sparking embers far ahead of the fire lines or create fire tornadoes. A large portion of Southern California faced an elevated fire risk on Tuesday, impacting over 20 million individuals from San Diego to well beyond Los Angeles. Areas north of LA, such as Thousand Oaks, Northridge, and Simi Valley, were particularly at risk. The weather service issued a rare warning for Tuesday, stating that the combination of high winds and extreme dryness had created a “particularly dangerous situation,” making any new fire likely to rapidly grow in size. Aircraft dropped bright pink fire-retardant chemicals on homes and hillsides, while crews and fire engines were stationed at vulnerable locations with dry vegetation. Additional water trucks arrived to replenish supplies after hydrants ran dry last week during the initial fires. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials expressed confidence on Monday that the region was prepared to confront the new threat, with more firefighters brought in from across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Despite expectations for less intense winds compared to the previous week, firefighting aircraft could be grounded by the winds, according to LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. Marrone cautioned that if winds reached 70 mph (112 kph), “it’s going to be very difficult to contain that fire.” Since the beginning of the year, over a dozen wildfires have erupted in Southern California, primarily within the greater Los Angeles area. On Monday night, a fire broke out in a dry riverbed in an
An inferno rages in the agricultural area of Oxnard, northwest of Los Angeles, as flames tore through tall brush before being halted in their tracks by firefighters, reported the Ventura County Fire Department. Urging residents in high-risk areas to prioritize safety over waiting for formal evacuation orders, fire officials advised immediate evacuation at the first sign of danger.
One such resident who heeded this advice is Tim Kang of La Crescenta, who, feeling ill from the smoky air and anxious about the encroaching fires, swiftly evacuated with his brothers, choosing to stay away from their neighborhood. “Everything just felt like, ‘Oh man, the world’s ending,’” Kang shared, currently seeking refuge with his girlfriend in Pasadena.
The fires surrounding the nation’s second-largest city have left a trail of destruction, scorching over 63 square miles (163 square kilometers), approximately three times the size of Manhattan. While the Eaton Fire near Pasadena is partially contained, the largest blaze in Pacific Palisades remains largely uncontained.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna indicated on Monday that the death toll is expected to climb, with at least two dozen individuals reported missing. Luna emphasized the ongoing search efforts for missing persons and urged patience from those eager to return home as search teams comb through affected areas.
A community meeting regarding the Palisades Fire revealed that many individuals initially reported as missing have since been located. As just under 100,000 residents in Los Angeles County continue to face evacuation orders, support from various sources is pouring in to aid those displaced or who have lost their homes, including contributions from Beyoncé, Disney, and other celebrities and organizations.
However, amidst the outpouring of assistance, reports of looting and scams have surfaced in disaster zones. Instances of price gouging and fraudulent activities related to accommodations and medical supplies have been noted, prompting intervention from authorities to address the exploitation in the wake of the crisis.
The fires, which ignited last Tuesday north of downtown LA, have devoured more than 12,000 residential properties, vehicles, and other structures, leaving destruction in their wake. While the official cause for the fires remains undetermined, investigation is ongoing to ascertain potential origins, including examining equipment from Southern California Edison as a probable source for a smaller blaze.
A lawsuit filed against Southern California Edison alleges its equipment sparked the significant Eaton Fire, though the utility has not yet issued a formal response to the accusations. Early assessments from AccuWeather suggest the fires could amass a record-breaking cost exceeding $250 billion, with reconstruction expenses for affected properties estimated to reach $15 billion within active fire zones, according to data from real estate tracker CoreLogic.
As the situation continues to evolve, updates from various locations contribute to the ongoing coverage of the wildfires’ impacts, with journalists from San Diego, Toledo, Los Angeles, Concord, New Hampshire, New York, Chicago, Norfolk, Virginia, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, providing essential reporting for a comprehensive understanding of the unfolding events
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