Photo by Soly Moses
A minimum of five individuals have lost their lives as a series of wildfires devastate southern California, driven by powerful winds. Tens of thousands of residents have been compelled to evacuate their homes and businesses, with some suggesting that this could evolve into one of the costliest fire incidents in the history of the United States.
By Wednesday afternoon, at least six separate fires had been documented, with the most significant being the Palisades Fire, which has consumed 15,832 acres (approximately 6,400 hectares) of coastal residential land situated north of Los Angeles.
In the northeastern region of the city, another significant fire, known as the Eaton Fire, raged on, having devastated 10,600 acres (approximately 4,300 hectares).
Additionally, four other fires—referred to as the Woodley, Hurst, Lidia, and Olivas fires—were classified as “emergency incidents” by Cal Fire, the state’s fire protection agency.
As of early Wednesday, Cal Fire reported that none of the five fires had been contained. “What’s happening is astounding,” remarked President Joe Biden from Los Angeles on Wednesday.
He had traveled to the town this week to reveal two new national monuments in California, but his plans were disrupted by the powerful Santa Ana winds.
Biden, whose presidency concludes in under two weeks, acknowledged the severity of the devastation and the likelihood of an extended recovery: “It’s going to be a hell of a long way. It’s going to take time.”
He declared his intention to issue a federal emergency declaration and instructed the Department of Defense to mobilize its firefighting teams in collaboration with various federal, state, and local agencies.
As of Wednesday, approximately 70,000 individuals have been instructed to evacuate. During a news conference, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone reported that at least 1,000 structures have been lost since the onset of the fires, which began around 10:30 AM local time (18:30 GMT) on Tuesday. He further noted a significant number of serious injuries among residents who chose not to evacuate, as well as among first responders actively engaged in combating the fires. These incidents exemplify the alarming trend of escalating wildfires across the western United States, where the fire season is increasingly extending throughout the year, even during traditionally cooler and wetter periods.
Alarmed residents left their vehicles abandoned on one of the few access roads to the affluent Pacific Palisades region, situated along the coastline north of Los Angeles. Many individuals chose to evacuate on foot as the Palisades Fire consumed an area filled with luxury homes in the Santa Monica Mountains. Notable figures from Hollywood, including Mandy Moore and Mark Hamill, were among those who evacuated.
Firefighters utilized bulldozers to clear a path by moving numerous cars to the side, resulting in many vehicles being left damaged with their alarms sounding, to facilitate the passage of emergency responders. A fire official informed KTLA that several individuals sustained injuries, including burns to their faces and hands, while one female firefighter reportedly suffered a head injury. “This morning, we awoke to a dark cloud over all of Los Angeles. However, the situation is most dire for those who are directly affected by these fires. The past 24 hours have been incredibly distressing,” stated Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath during a press briefing.
President-elect Donald Trump criticized both Newsom and Biden for their management of the wildfires. As a Republican preparing to assume office for a second term on January 20, he has frequently clashed with the two Democratic leaders.
“The wildfires in Los Angeles could potentially be recorded as the most costly in the history of our nation,” he stated on social media. “This should serve as a clear representation of the severe incompetence and mismanagement exhibited by the Biden/Newsom duo. The arrival of January 20th cannot come soon enough!”
