Massive wildfires in Los Angeles remained uncontained as US National Guard soldiers readied to hit the streets to help quell disorder.
The Kenneth fire (below) approaches homes while the back side of the Palisade fire (above) continues to burn Los Angeles county, California on January 9, 2025. (AFP)
Los Angeles and surrounding areas have been sent into a tizzy due to wildfires, which have destroyed 10,000 homes, businesses, and other structures. The flames have killed at least 10 people and forced the evacuation of more than 180,000 residents. Firefighters are stretched thin as they battle the spread of multiple fires, and new blazes erupted Thursday evening, heightening fears that the crisis could worsen in the coming days.
The Pacific Palisades Fire, which has burned over 19,000 acres, is one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history. Dozens of blocks were flattened to smouldering rubble in the area. Only the outlines of homes and their chimneys remained. In Malibu, blackened palm strands were all left above debris where oceanfront homes once stood.
At least five churches, a synagogue, seven schools, two libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks, and groceries were lost. The Will Rogers’ Western Ranch House and Topanga Ranch Motel, local landmarks dating to the 1920s, were also lost. The government has not yet released figures on the cost of the damage or specifics about how many structures burned.
On Thursday, AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impact, increased its estimate of the damage and economic loss to $135-$150 billion.
It has destroyed homes in upscale neighbourhoods and wiped out destroyed landmarks, including the Topanga Ranch Motel and the Willers’ Western Ranch House, dating to the 1920s. In Malibu, once beautiful beachfront homes are now reduced to rubble, with only burned remnants remaining.
Another major fire, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, has burned through more than 5,000 structures since it started Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, the fast-moving Kenneth Fire started in the late afternoon in the San Fernando Valley, just 3.2 kilometres from a school serving as a shelter for fire evacuees. By evening, it had moved into neighbouring Ventura County.
Massive firefighting efforts on
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned that high winds expected Thursday evening would intensify the fires and make containment even more difficult.
As authorities struggle to control the blazes, the death toll continues to rise. Among the 10 confirmed deaths, five were victims of the Eaton Fire, with the other deaths linked to various regional fires.
Crews are working tirelessly to recover victims from the charred remains of homes, including a tragic scene in Malibu where recovery teams discovered the body of a resident in the debris of a beachfront home.
The fires have also prompted widespread evacuations, and the city’s schools were closed on Friday due to heavy smoke. The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the US, has announced that classes will resume only when conditions improve.
In addition to the state’s emergency response, California’s National Guard was deployed Thursday evening to assist with the crisis. Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized that the state is doing everything possible to protect communities but warned that conditions remain critical. President Joe Biden has pledged federal support to help fight the fires, describing the current situation as “the most widespread, devastating fire in California’s history.”
Celebs among those affected
Among the many displaced, even high-profile figures have been affected. Celebrities like Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and Mandy Moore have lost their homes.
Jamie Lee Curtis pledged $1 million to start a “fund of support” for those affected by the fires that touched all economic levels, from the city’s wealthy to its working class.
California’s wildfire season makes early entry.
According to recent data, California’s wildfire season begins earlier and ends later due to rising temperatures and decreased rainfall caused by climate change.
Dry winds, including the notorious Santa Anas, have contributed to warmer-than-average temperatures in Southern California. Since early May, the region has not seen more than 0.1 inches (2.5 millimetres) of rain.
