The ravaging wildfires in the Los Angeles area have left a trail of destruction that is truly horrific, with neighborhoods obliterated, landmarks decimated, and lives tragically lost. However, the method by which officials are tallying the damage has raised some confusion and scrutiny. The reported count of over 12,000 “structures” damaged includes not only homes, apartments, and businesses but also vehicles, a detail that has not been traditionally emphasized in fire damage assessments.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone and other officials have indicated that the estimate encompasses vehicles, a departure from the usual practice in such evaluations. This inclusion of vehicles in the count has sparked questions and comparisons, with some wondering if it is fair to equate the damage to structures with damage to vehicles.
Chris Thomas, a spokesperson for the unified incident command at the Palisades fire, clarified that the initial estimate was derived from infrared imaging captured during aerial surveys. However, distinguishing between a burned-out vehicle and other structures from such heights can be challenging. Thomas explained that efforts were made to exclude vehicles from the count based on certain criteria, such as the location of the object in driveways or along roadsides devoid of structures.
In order to provide a more accurate assessment, teams on the ground are conducting detailed examinations of the damage to definitively ascertain the number of structures destroyed. Vehicles will not be included in the final tally. Thomas emphasized the cautious approach taken in the assessment process, stating that if there is any doubt about an object being a structure, it is included in the count.
As a result of this meticulous review process, the final count of destroyed structures may ultimately be lower than the initial estimate of 12,000 provided by officials. While striving for transparency in their reporting, officials find themselves in the position of having to explain and clarify the rationale behind including certain items in the count, such as vehicles.
It is important to note that structures eligible for inclusion in the count are limited to freestanding outbuildings like garages, sheds, or pool houses. This distinction underscores the complexity and precision required in assessing the full extent of the damage caused by the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
