LOS ANGELES (AP) — Devastating wildfires continue to ravage the Los Angeles area, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake as flames tear through homes and businesses, forcing residents to evacuate from smoke-choked canyons and affluent neighborhoods frequented by celebrities.
The infernos, which first ignited on Tuesday, have been exacerbated by fierce Santa Ana winds gusting at speeds exceeding 70 mph (112 kph) in certain areas. On Wednesday, the relentless winds persisted, grounding aircraft and impeding firefighting efforts.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced that over 1,400 firefighting personnel have been deployed by the state to combat the blazes. In a rare move, the Los Angeles Fire Department issued an urgent call for all off-duty firefighters in the city to provide assistance.
The Palisades Fire, which erupted around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, has scorched approximately 4.5 square miles (11.6 square kilometers), officials reported. Embers raining down on trees and rooftops in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood created chaos as residents scrambled to escape, resulting in a traffic gridlock that obstructed emergency vehicles. Crews resorted to using a bulldozer to clear the abandoned vehicles from the roads.
Witnesses have described the scene as apocalyptic, with photos capturing the intensity of the devastation.
In addition to the Palisades Fire, other blazes have also wreaked havoc in the region. The Eaton Fire, originating around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday north of Pasadena in the Altadena area, exploded in size to 16.6 square miles (43 square kilometers) by late Wednesday morning. At a senior center, employees evacuated dozens of residents in wheelchairs and hospital beds to a nearby parking lot as a precaution.
The Hurst Fire, which broke out around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, prompted evacuations in Sylmar, a community in the northernmost reaches of the San Fernando Valley. By early Wednesday, the fire had expanded to nearly a square mile (2.6 square kilometers).
Evacuation orders impacted approximately 30,000 residents due to the Palisades Fire, with over 13,000 structures deemed at risk. The Eaton Fire prompted evacuation orders for more than 50,000 individuals, according to Angeles National Forest officials. Evacuations were concentrated in the Pacific Palisades area, as well as parts of Santa Monica and Altadena.
Southern California has been grappling with widespread power outages, affecting around 400,000 customers, with over 260,000 of them located in Los Angeles County, as per data from PowerOutage.us. The forecast indicates a continuation of the dangerous conditions, with Santa Ana winds intensifying and potentially exceeding 100 mph (160 kph) in mountainous regions and foothills that have experienced prolonged dry spells.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings signaling extremely critical fire weather conditions,
