Firefighters in Los Angeles faced a challenging weekend as they battled deadly fires that destroyed homes and claimed the lives of at least 24 people. While the weather calmed slightly, concerns lingered over forecasts predicting more wind that could reignite flames and create new fires.
The death toll rose with updates from the Los Angeles County medical examiner, and the number of missing individuals was expected to increase. Despite the tense situation, some evacuated residents were able to return home on Sunday.
Red flag warnings were issued by the National Weather Service for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with high winds posing a significant threat. Fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns emphasized the potential for spotting, where new fires could start miles away from the original blaze due to blowing embers.
Amidst the devastation, a community meeting at Pasadena City College maintained a respectful atmosphere, with appreciation shown for the efforts of experts, police, firefighters, and community leaders. Additional resources, such as water trucks and fire retardant, were deployed to combat the fires.
The wildfires, fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds, ravaged neighborhoods that had not seen significant rainfall for months. Efforts to locate missing individuals were underway, with cadaver dogs conducting searches and an online database being set up for residents to check on their homes.
With ongoing dangers in scorched areas, officials urged the public to stay away due to safety concerns including unstable structures and hazardous materials in the ash. Evacuation orders remained in place for thousands of residents, with shelters providing refuge for those displaced by the fires.
Officials stated that most evacuation orders in the Palisades area were unlikely to be lifted until the red flag warnings expire on Wednesday evening. Mayor Marrone assured residents that discussions on repopulation would begin first thing Thursday. Overall, four fires had burned over 62 square miles, a larger area than the city of San Francisco. The Palisades Fire was only 11% contained, while the Eaton Fire reached 27% containment, covering a combined 59 square miles. The firefighting effort involved crews from California and nine other states, totaling nearly 1,400 fire engines, 84 aircraft, and over 14,000 personnel, including firefighters from Mexico.
After a tough battle on Saturday, firefighters successfully defended homes in Mandeville Canyon, an area near Pacific Palisades where celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger reside. Helicopters dropped water to combat the flames as they spread downhill. The fire threatened to cross Interstate 405 and reach densely populated areas in the Hollywood Hills and San Fernando Valley. Authorities were vigilant against looting, arresting individuals posing as firefighters to enter homes.
The fires, which began north of downtown LA on Tuesday, destroyed over 12,000 structures. The cause of the biggest fires remains unknown, but early estimates suggest they could become the costliest in U.S. history, potentially reaching $150 billion. In addition to firefighters from different states and Mexico, hundreds of inmates from California’s prison system assisted in fire containment efforts.
Governor Newsom issued an executive order to expedite rebuilding by suspending certain environmental regulations and ensuring property tax assessments would not increase. More than 24,000 individuals had registered for federal assistance under a major disaster declaration by President Biden. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass anticipated a visit from President-elect Trump’s administration.
As Bass faces scrutiny regarding her leadership during the crisis, investigations into potential failures have commenced. Governor Newsom ordered an inquiry into why a 117 million-gallon reservoir was offline.
The taps had run dry. By Holly Ramer, reporting from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press reporters Julie Walker in New York, Sophia Tareen in Chicago, Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, and Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, contributed.
