Warnings of high winds in LA raise concerns over firefighting efforts amid relentless inferno
LOS ANGELES – Six simultaneous blazes that have ripped across Los Angeles County neighbourhoods since Tuesday have killed at least 16 people as of late Saturday, the Washington Post and other media reported, citing the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office.
Aircraft dropped water and fire retardant on steep hills to stem the eastward spread of the Palisades wildfire as on-the-ground firefighting intensified amid warnings of wind gusts of up to 70 mph (110 kph) that could make matters worse.
Over the past 24 hours, the fire spread over an additional 1,000 acres (400 hectares), consuming more homes, officials reported.
The blazes have damaged or destroyed 12,000 structures, fire officials said. At least 13 people are estimated to be missing.
The death toll is expected to mount when firefighters are able to conduct house-to-house searches.
Cal Fire official Todd Hopkins told a press conference that while 11% of the Palisades Fire was now contained, it has burnt over 22,000 acres.
The National Weather Service warned of worsening Santa Ana winds that it predicted would intensify through Sunday morning in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and again on late Monday through Tuesday morning, bringing sustained winds up to 30 mph and wind gusts up to 70 mph.
“We’re in a continued period of critical fire weather through Wednesday,” said NWS meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld. Conditions were expected to moderate by Thursday.
Evacuation orders throughout the Los Angeles area now cover 153,000 residents, putting 57,000 structures at risk. Another 166,000 residents have been warned that they may have to evacuate, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
But significant progress was reported in bringing electrical power back to Los Angeles neighbourhoods. Southern California Edison CEO Steven Powell told reporters there are now about 50,000 customers without power, “down from over half a million just a couple days ago.”
Powell said there was no evidence that any of Edison’s equipment caused the Hurst fire but that the investigation was continuing.
President Biden’s major disaster declaration unlocked federal assistance for those affected by the wildfires, clearing the way for FEMA to provide support. Federal Emergency Management Agency officials were at the Pasadena Convention Center helping residents navigate FEMA aid applications.
Support can range from funding for home repairs to money to replace lost food or medication, said FEMA spokesperson Michael Hart, adding that assistance can be provided within days.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners’ insurance costs.
