Two massive wildfires in Los Angeles, one to the east and the other to the west, have destroyed nearly 10,000 homes and other buildings. The fires, which have been burning for three days, have caused widespread damage, with winds easing slightly, giving firefighters a brief chance to control the flames.
The Palisades Fire in the west, between Santa Monica and Malibu, and the Eaton Fire in the east, near Pasadena, are among the worst in Los Angeles history. Together, they have burned 34,000 acres, or 53 square miles, completely wiping out entire neighborhoods.
Authorities have confirmed the deaths of seven people, though Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said that number could rise. He explained that officials had not yet finished searching the affected areas for bodies. "It looks like an atomic bomb dropped on these neighborhoods," Sheriff Luna said. "I’m not expecting good news."
The Eaton Fire alone has damaged or destroyed 4,000 to 5,000 buildings. The Palisades Fire has taken down another 5,300. Private forecasters at AccuWeather have estimated that the total damage and economic losses could reach up to $150 billion, which would make the recovery process extremely difficult and raise the cost of homeowners' insurance.
Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles stated that the city is already planning to rebuild, although she has faced criticism for her handling of the disaster. President Joe Biden declared a major disaster on Tuesday, promising that the federal government would cover all recovery costs for the next 180 days, including debris removal, temporary shelters, and first responder salaries. "Spare no expense to do what they need to do," Biden said after meeting with senior advisers.
Five wildfires were burning across Los Angeles County, and firefighting aircraft were constantly flying over the area, dropping fire retardant and water to try to control the flames. One of the fires, called the Kenneth Fire, broke out on Thursday near Calabasas, a wealthy city known for its celebrity residents and gated communities. This fire quickly grew to 960 acres in just a few hours.
Because of the fast-moving fires, Los Angeles County mistakenly sent an evacuation warning to the entire county, which has a population of 9.6 million people. The warning was supposed to be for just the area around the Kenneth Fire. A correction was quickly sent out.
The wildfires caused so much smoke and ash that schools were closed for a second day on Friday. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said it was unsafe for children to attend classes because of the poor air quality. The situation worsened when officials warned that the wind would pick up again overnight, making the fires even harder to control.
In Pacific Palisades, a wealthy neighborhood home to many celebrities, large homes were reduced to ashes. Power lines were down, and abandoned cars lined the streets. Residents, some wearing masks to protect themselves from the smoke, tried to check on their properties, but there was little left to see. Aerial footage showed entire blocks of homes turned to rubble, while satellite images showed smoke pouring out over the Pacific Ocean from the fires on both sides of the city.
Firefighters have managed to get control of the Sunset Fire, which had forced evacuations in Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills. The fire had burned on a ridge above the famous Hollywood Boulevard, where tourists and residents alike rushed to flee from the flames.
Firefighters from across the United States and Canada have been called in to help fight the wildfires. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his country’s support, saying, “Canada’s here to help,” as his country has also experienced its own severe wildfires this year.
The situation remains dire, with high winds expected to continue until at least Friday afternoon, making the efforts to contain the fires even more challenging.