Los Angeles: The devastating wildfire that has swept across multiple regions of Los Angeles has claimed at least 10 lives and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, forcing more than 100,000 people to evacuate, according to media reports.
The fire continues to burn out of control in six major areas: Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, Hurst, and Lidia. As of the latest updates, at least five fatalities have been confirmed, with the devastating blaze overwhelming firefighting crews who have been battling the flames for days.
“This crisis is part of a larger disaster driven by prolonged dry conditions, following Los Angeles’ highest recorded rainfall in two years,” said outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden in a post on social media. “Thousands of displaced residents now face an uncertain future as they attempt to rebuild their lives amidst the destruction.”
Images from the affected areas show entire homes and vehicles completely engulfed in flames, with the wildfire hitting even the affluent neighborhood of Hollywood Hills. In some cases, residents who fled the flames returned to find their homes reduced to ash, and began clearing debris in an effort to salvage what they could.
The fires have also led to evacuations from wealthy areas, with Hollywood A-listers joining thousands of residents in fleeing their homes. Neighboring states, including Oregon, Utah, and Nevada, have sent support in battling the fires, which have been described as among the most destructive the region has seen in recent memory.
Strong winds, reaching gusts of up to 100 mph, combined with extremely low humidity, have exacerbated the spread of the fires. Meteorologist Ariel Cohen, head of the National Weather Service in Los Angeles, explained to CNN that the record rainfall in 2024 helped spur rapid vegetation growth, which now serves as dry fuel for the flames. “Brush grew from all that precipitation,” Cohen said. “Now, those same conditions have turned it into a fire hazard.”
The Palisades fire, the largest among the blazes, has consumed 17,234 acres, stretching from Pacific Palisades westward along the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu. The Eaton fire has scorched over 10,000 acres in Pasadena and Altadena, while the Sunset fire has burned 60 acres in Hollywood and Hollywood Hills, forcing mandatory evacuations. The Hurst fire has destroyed 855 acres near Sylmar.
Governor Gavin Newsom has emphasized the significant toll the wildfires have taken on both human lives and property, as the region grapples with a catastrophe of unprecedented scale. Thousands of residents remain in limbo, uncertain about what the future holds in the wake of the destruction.
As firefighters continue their battle against the raging blazes, the focus remains on providing aid to the displaced and addressing the broader crisis posed by climate-driven extremes in California.
