The death toll from the Los Angeles wildfires has risen from two to five people, according to local officials. The names of the victims have not been released. Over 1,000 buildings have been destroyed by the fires, and that number is expected to increase. Currently, five fires are burning in the Los Angeles area. The two largest fires, the Palisades and Eaton Fires, have burned more than 25,000 acres combined.
The fires began on Tuesday, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, which reached speeds of more than 70 mph in some areas. These powerful winds made it difficult for firefighting aircraft to operate on Wednesday, delaying efforts to control the flames. Aerial firefighting resumed on Wednesday morning.
James Woods, an actor, became emotional on live television after losing his home in the fires. Meanwhile, elderly residents were seen fleeing the flames, with several hundred taking shelter at an evacuation center in Pasadena by Wednesday afternoon.
The fires have caused extensive damage. Preliminary estimates from AccuWeather suggest that the fires have resulted in economic losses between $52 billion and $57 billion. In response to the disaster, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that 1,400 fire personnel had been deployed to help fight the fires. Oregon is sending 240 firefighters and 60 engines to assist, and Los Angeles Fire Department has called in all off-duty firefighters to help with the situation.
So far, more than 70,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, and this number keeps changing as new evacuation orders are issued. The flames are advancing toward populated neighborhoods, including Calabasas and Santa Monica, which are home to many celebrities like Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore, and James Woods, all of whom were forced to evacuate.
The wildfires have also left around 1.5 million customers without power, including nearly a million in Los Angeles County, according to PowerOutage.us.
President Joe Biden, who was already in Los Angeles this week, met with Governor Newsom on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing crisis. He also spoke with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass by phone. Biden expressed his support for the people of Southern California, assuring them that the government would provide assistance for both firefighting efforts and recovery. Newsom thanked Biden for his help, acknowledging the importance of the president’s presence in the region.
Recovery from the fires will take time, according to Biden, but the government’s efforts will continue to support the affected communities.
