The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office reported on Monday that the death toll from the devastating wildfires that swept through communities in the Los Angeles area this month has now reached 29 individuals. The latest fatality occurred at a hospital due to injuries sustained in the Palisades Fire, which first erupted on January 7th and wrought widespread destruction upon Pacific Palisades and the Pacific Coast. According to an official statement released by the medical examiner’s office, the Palisades Fire has been responsible for the destruction of a staggering 6,837 homes and various other structures, scorching a total of 23,448 acres as a result of igniting amidst extreme wind conditions. Assessment teams tasked with evaluating the extent of the damage are nearing the completion of their inspections, as confirmed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
As of Monday evening, authorities reported that the Palisades Fire was 95% contained, a significant development in the ongoing efforts to mitigate the disaster. Concurrently, residents were permitted to re-enter previously evacuated areas within the fire zone, marking a step towards the recovery and restoration process. Meanwhile, a separate wildfire known as the Eaton Fire, which also began on January 7th in Los Angeles County, caused considerable devastation in Altadena, as well as impacting residential areas in Pasadena and Sierra Madre. The interagency fire information center, comprising entities such as Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service, disclosed that the Eaton Fire has resulted in the destruction of 9,418 homes and structures, scorching a vast expanse of 14,021 acres. Presently, the fire has been deemed 98% contained as of the latest update.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley expressed that the recent wildfires rank amongst the most destructive disasters in the history of Los Angeles, attributing the severity of the situation to the hurricane-force Santa Ana winds that exacerbated the flames while hindering aerial firefighting operations. Investigations into the causes of both the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire are actively being pursued to determine the origins of these catastrophic events.
