Devastating fires in Los Angeles rage out of control; Death toll expected to rise, says police chief
A pair of massive wildfires menacing Los Angeles from the east and west continued to burn uncontained on Thursday (Friday AEDT), two days after they ignited, but firefighters managed to beat back another fire scorching the Hollywood Hills.
The Palisades fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on the city’s western flank and the Eaton fire in the east near Pasadena are already the most destructive in Los Angeles’ history. So far, nearly 11,331 hectares – an area bigger than Disney World – have burnt, turning entire neighbourhoods to ash.
At least five people have been killed, with the death toll expected to rise, Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna told a press conference.
“It’s too soon to conduct major searches of burned areas, and it’s not clear what authorities will find when they do search,” Luna said.
Thousands of homes and businesses in Pacific Palisades have been incinerated and nearly 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes across Los Angeles, officials said.
Residents embrace outside a burning property in the Eaton area of Los Angeles.Credit: AP
The Eaton fire remains zero per cent contained but its growth has significantly slowed, Los Angeles County fire chief Anthony Marrone said. While still fierce, winds have dropped slightly, permitting crucial aerial support.
“We have a much better posture than we did on Tuesday and Wednesday,” said Marrone.
However, officials warned wind gusts of up to 100km/h were forecast to persist throughout the day, and Kristin Crowley, the Los Angeles City fire department chief, said residents should be prepared to evacuate if ordered.
“It is safe to say that the Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles,” Crowley said.
Firefighters, assisted by helicopters dropping retardants and water, managed to make gains overnight in battling the Sunset Fire, which had forced mandatory evacuations in Hollywood and Hollywood Hills late on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT).
The fire was in retreat and firefighters were making forward progress, Crowley said. No buildings were lost in the area and the evacuation order was lifted, a city fire department spokeswoman said.
It was one of at least five wildfires burning in Los Angeles County on FRiday (AEDT) as powerful winds spread flames across parched ground that hasn’t seen rain for months. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described it as a “perfect storm” of dangerous conditions.
The two biggest conflagrations – the Palisades and Eaton fires – formed a pincer around the city so enormous that it was visible from space.
The homes of movie stars and celebrities were among those consumed by flames, which tore through some of the world’s most lavish real estate.
“We are heartbroken, of course, but with the love of children and friends we will get through this,” said film star Billy Crystal and his wife Janice, announcing the Pacific Palisades home where they had lived since 1979 had been destroyed.
Media personality Paris Hilton said she was “heartbroken beyond words” after watching her Malibu beachfront “burn to the ground on live TV”.
The National Weather Service extended red flag warnings – issued when the risk for fire is high due to low humidity, high winds and warm temperatures – for Los Angeles and Ventura counties to Saturday AEDT.
Some fire hydrants ran dry in Pacific Palisades, which is wedged between Malibu and Santa Monica, officials said on Wednesday.
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Eaton fire.Credit: AP
US President Joe Biden was briefed and was due to meet with top administration officials to discuss the federal response to the fires, the White House told reporters.
Some residents returned to areas the fire had already swept through, where brick chimneys were left looming over charred waste and burnt-out vehicles. The remnants of a tattered and scorched American flag flapped from a pole.
“I had just come from my family home where my mother lives that was burned to a crisp ... And then I came up to my home and – same thing. It’s completely dust,” said Oliver Allnatt, 36, wearing ski goggles and a filtered face mask as he took pictures of the ruins.
“Basically, just a chimney stack and a pile of ash. I mean, it’s something out of a movie.”
Thousands of Angelenos fleeing the flames sought refuge in temporary shelters. Foad Farid found refuge in the Westwood Recreation Centre’s gym – he was left with only his car and phone. Neighbours dropped off blankets, clothing, water, pizza and pet food.
Jeff Harris arrived towing his Feisty Fish Poke food truck and began serving meals. “I’m just here to help,” he said.
At a Pasadena evacuation centre, Kevin Williams said he knew it was time to run when gas canisters at his neighbours’ homes began exploding under the heat.
“The wind whipped up, the flames were up about 30 or 40 feet high, and you hear ‘pop, pop, pop’. It sounded like a war zone,” he said.
Aerial video by KTLA television showed block after block of smouldering homes in Pacific Palisades, the smoky grid occasionally punctuated by the orange blaze of another home still on fire.
The scale and spread of the blazes stretched exhausted firefighting crews beyond their capacity.
Firefighters from six other US states were being rushed to California, while an additional 250 engine companies with 1000 personnel were being transferred from northern California to southern California.
The fires struck at an especially vulnerable time for the region, which has not seen significant rainfall for months. Then came the powerful Santa Ana winds, bringing dry desert air from the east towards the coastal mountains, fanning wildfires while blowing over the hilltops and down through the canyons.
Officials said at least 20 people had been arrested for looting.
A firefighter hoses down a burning house in the Eaton area.Credit: Bloomberg
AP, Reuters
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.