Written by Jorge Garcia and Rollo Ross
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Two massive wildfires threatening Los Angeles from the east and west burned nearly 10,000 homes and other buildings, burning for a third night in a row on Thursday even as strong winds eased and firefighters were given a temporary respite.
The Palisades Fire is between Santa Monica and Malibu on the city's west side Eaton (NYSE:) The fire to the east near Pasadena already ranks as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, having scorched 34,000 acres (13,750 hectares) — or about 53 square miles — reducing entire neighborhoods to ash.
Officials from three different jurisdictions reported seven people dead, though Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in a news conference that he did not want to say a specific number until it was safe for human remains teams to conduct house-to-house searches. . .
But based on the widespread destruction, expect the number to rise.
“It seems that an atomic bomb was dropped on these areas,” Luna said. “I do not expect good news, and we are not looking forward to these numbers.”
Earlier, it was reported that the Eaton Fire alone had damaged or destroyed 4,000 to 5,000 buildings. The Palisades Fire destroyed another 5,300 structures, officials said.
Private forecasting firm AccuWeather estimated damage and economic losses at between $135 billion and $150 billion, portending an arduous recovery and rising insurance costs for homeowners.
“We're really looking forward to rebuilding L.A. strong,” said Democratic Mayor Karen Bass, who has faced criticism from President-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans for her handling of the disaster.
President Joe Biden, who declared a major disaster on Tuesday, promised Thursday that the federal government would make up 100% of the recovery over the next 180 days to pay for debris and hazardous materials removal, temporary shelters and salaries for first responders.
“I told the governor and local officials to spare no expense to do what they need to do and contain these fires,” Biden said after meeting with senior White House advisers.
In all, five wildfires burned in Los Angeles County, and the skies filled with planes dropping retardant and water onto the burning hills.
A fast-growing fire broke out Thursday near Calabasas, one of the richest cities in the United States and home to many celebrities and gated communities. The so-called Kenneth Fire spread to 960 acres (388 hectares) within hours.
With the tension so high, Los Angeles County mistakenly sent a countywide evacuation notice to a population of 9.6 million, even though it was only intended for the Kenneth Fire area, officials said. The patch was sent quickly.
“We are alive”
Some Pacific Palisades residents ventured back to areas already ravaged by the fire, where brick chimneys were left looming above charred trash and burned-out vehicles.
“We're alive. That's all that matters,” said Bilal Tokhi, a private security guard, as he stood outside his employer's damaged home, adding that the scene reminded him of his native war-torn Afghanistan.
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said school was canceled for a second day Friday due to smoke, ash and particulate matter polluting the air.
The growth of the Eaton Fire has largely halted, although it remains 0% under control, Marrone said. Although the winds are still strong, they have diminished since gusts of up to 100 mph (160 kph) earlier in the week, allowing crucial air support for crews on the ground.
But officials warned that winds were expected to pick up again overnight, and red flag conditions were expected to persist until Friday afternoon.
The Eaton Fire has reached Mount Wilson Observatory, the place where Edwin Hubble discovered a century ago that galaxies outside the Milky Way exist and that the universe is expanding.
“We are pleased to announce that the outbreak of the Eaton Fire near the observatory appears to be under control at this time,” the observatory said in a statement.
The two largest fires – the Palisades and Eaton fires – formed a pincer around the city so massive that it could have been seen from space.
In Pacific Palisades, an upscale and picturesque area where many celebrities reside, luxury homes were reduced to rubble, while downed power lines and abandoned cars littered the roads. The smell of thick smoke filled the air, and residents wearing masks rode bicycles, hoping to catch a glimpse of their damaged homes.
Aerial video showed group after group of homes flattened, while satellite images showed the two largest fires forming pincers around the city and thick plumes of smoke rising from the fires over the Pacific Ocean.
The Hollywood fire has been contained
Fire crews were able to fully control the Sunset Fire, which forced residents to evacuate in Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills, after the flames burned over the hills overlooking the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard on Wednesday evening and caused a traffic jam for fleeing residents.
The homes of movie stars and celebrities were among those engulfed in flames.
Chef José Andrés, a Spaniard known for providing free food to disaster victims around the world, has set up a food truck near the Palisades Fire on the Pacific Coast Highway.
He said: “Everyone needs support and love in these moments, whether rich or not, poor or not.”
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis said Thursday that her family will donate $1 million to relief efforts.
Firefighters from six other US states and Canada were transported to California, in addition to US federal personnel and equipment.
“To our American neighbors: Canada is here to help,” said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose country has witnessed severe wildfires.
