Fueled by strong winds and dry weather, a series of ferocious wildfires roared through the Los Angeles area last week, killing at least 27 people, some of them trying to avoid letting the blaze engulf their homes. Thousands of buildings were destroyed, including the deaths of several people.
Los Angeles County fire officials said countless serious injuries were linked to two fires, and Los Angeles city officials described the night of Jan. 7 as the “most devastating” fire they had ever seen. “It was one of the scariest things ever.” A corner of her town.
Here’s what we know about the fire.
Where is the fire?
The Palisades Fire started on the morning of January 7th as a wildfire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of East Malibu, Los Angeles. The fire, which had grown to 23,713 acres, was 52% contained by Sunday afternoon, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire. Cal Fire said more than 5,000 structures may have been damaged or destroyed by the fire.
The Eaton Fire broke out hours after the Palisades Fire, near a canyon in the vast national forest north of downtown Los Angeles. Cal Fire said the blast covered 14,021 acres and was 81% contained by Saturday night. The agency reports that more than 10,300 structures are confirmed to have been damaged or destroyed as a result of the fire.
While firefighters battled the largest blaze, more fires broke out in the Los Angeles area. Crews were able to stop forward spread and contain the fire.
As of Friday night, the Lydia Fire, Archer Fire, Woodley Fire, Sunset Fire, Kenneth Fire, Hurst Fire and Oat Fire are 100% contained and are no longer considered active, according to Cal Fire. During that time, the fire has burned 2,399 acres.
Were there any deaths or injuries?
At least 27 people had died in the fire as of Thursday afternoon, Los Angeles County officials said.
The county coroner’s office is still investigating many of the deaths. The ministry noted that the bodies cannot be identified until they are disposed of at a facility.
At least 17 of the deaths occurred in the Eaton Fire and 10 in the Palisades Fire, according to the coroner’s office.
The coroner’s office said identifying the deceased could take several weeks.
Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise further.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Malone said a significant number of people who did not follow evacuation orders were injured in the Palisades fire. He also said there were serious injuries in the Eaton fire.
How many people will be affected?
At one point, nearly 200,000 people were ordered to evacuate as crews worked to extinguish the fire. By Tuesday morning, that number had fallen to about 88,000 people, with another 84,800 people in evacuation zones across Los Angeles County.
On Thursday, officials announced restrictions on repopulation of some areas evacuated due to the Palisades and Eaton fires.
The fire destroyed entire neighborhoods and city blocks, leaving countless people homeless.
How much damage did the fire cause?
Insurance losses from last week’s fires could exceed $20 billion, and total economic losses could reach $50 billion, according to estimates released Thursday by JPMorgan.
These losses would far exceed the $12.5 billion in insured losses from the 2018 Camp Fire, the most expensive fire in the country’s history, according to Aon data.
What caused the fire?
The official cause of the fire has not been determined.
A combination of drought-like conditions (Southern California has received less than 10% of average precipitation since October 1) and strong offshore winds that hit the region last week caused the fire weather. In the words of the National Weather Service, “It’s a disaster.”
The agency has issued red flags for 19 million people, indicating an increased risk of fire. Wind gusts exceeding 110 mph were recorded in several locations in the area.
Climate scientist Daniel Swain points to the weather whiplash that California has experienced in recent years, swinging between drought and heavy rain, and believes such fluctuations are a key factor in the fire weather that hits the region. said.
“It’s not just that drier conditions are more likely to persist in a warming climate,” he said, according to Inside Climate News. “This variation back and forth between states has particularly significant implications for wildfire risk in Southern California.”
More wildfire coverage
Steve Kopack, Andrew Blankstein, Doha Madani, and Dennis Romero contributed.
