Wildfires ravage Los Angeles, forcing mass evacuations

Fierce wildfires swept through Los Angeles on Wednesday, killing at least five people and forcing over 130,000 residents to evacuate. The three major fires, the Eaton, Hurst, and Palisades fires, devastated over 2,000 structures, including schools, while disrupting power.

The Palisades fire scorched 15,800 acres, and the Eaton Fire spread to 10,600 acres. A new fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills.

Hurricane-force winds and severe drought fueled the flames, overwhelming firefighting resources. Water shortages and dangerous conditions hindered efforts.

The fast-moving, dry and extremely warm Santa Ana winds are driving the wildfires. Yesterday, officials reported wind speeds of up to 100 mph in some areas.

The region is also experiencing drought-like conditions due to low rainfall worsened by climate change. Between May and December, LA reported its second-driest period in history.

At least 1.5 million people were without power yesterday.

Hydrants of the crew battling the fires in Pacific Palisades had little to no water flowing. By early morning, around 3 a.m., almost all water storage tanks in the Palisades area ran dry, per internal radio communication between firefighters.

President Joe Biden canceled international travel to address the crisis, while Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency.

Officials warned of continued strong winds and dry conditions as firefighters from six states joined the battle.

California’s fire season is worsening as the state has seen 16 of the 20 most destructive fires in the past decade.

According to early estimates by AccuWeather, the LA wildfire could cost between $52 billion and $57 billion in damages and economic recovery.