Airstrike aims to contain spread of LA Palisades fire eastward. From Reuters
By Omar Younis, Nathan Frandino and Sandra Stojanovic
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Planes dropped water and fire retardant on steep hills on Saturday to contain the eastward spread of the Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles, as firefighting on the ground intensified and warnings of wind gusts of up to 70 mph (110 km /h) threatened ), that could make things worse.
In the last 24 hours, the Palisades Fire spread to another 1,000 acres (400 hectares) and destroyed more homes, officials reported.
Six simultaneous fires that have ripped through Los Angeles County neighborhoods since Tuesday killed at least 16 people late Saturday, The Washington Post and other media reported, citing the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. Reuters could not immediately reach the coroner.
According to the fire department, the fires damaged or destroyed 12,000 buildings. It is estimated that at least 13 people are missing.
The death toll is expected to rise as firefighters are able to conduct home searches.
Cal Fire official Todd Hopkins said at a news conference that while 11% of the Palisades Fire is now contained, it has burned over 22,000 acres.
Hopkins said the Palisades Fire had spread to the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and was threatening to spread to Brentwood, an upscale neighborhood where celebrities live and play, and the San Fernando Valley. It also inched toward the north-south Highway 405.
The National Weather Service warned of worsening winds in Santa Ana, which it predicted would increase again Saturday night into Sunday morning in Los Angeles and Ventura counties and late Monday into Tuesday morning, with sustained winds of up to 30 mph and It would bring wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour.
“We are in a sustained period of critical fire weather through Wednesday,” said NWS meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld. Conditions were expected to weaken by Thursday.
The evacuation orders throughout the Los Angeles area now affect 153,000 residents and endanger 57,000 buildings. Another 166,000 residents have been warned that they may need to evacuate, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
However, significant progress has been reported in restoring power to Los Angeles neighborhoods. Steven Powell, CEO of Southern California Edison, told reporters that about 50,000 customers are currently without power, “up from over half a million a few days ago.”
Powell said there was no evidence that any Edison equipment caused the Hurst fire, but the investigation was ongoing.
As state and local officials grappled with the worst group of fires in Los Angeles history, President Joe Biden called some of them to get an update on their efforts. He was also briefed by senior staff on the federal resources being made available.
Biden’s major disaster declaration allowed federal assistance to be provided to those affected by the wildfires, paving the way for FEMA assistance. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were at the Pasadena Convention Center helping residents process FEMA aid applications.
Assistance can range from funding home repairs to money to replace lost food or medicine, FEMA spokesman Michael Hart said, adding that assistance can be provided within days.
Los Angeles Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Kathryn Barger told reporters she invited President-elect Donald Trump to visit the county to see the destruction firsthand.
Luna said the sheriff’s office deployed 40 members of a search and rescue team to work with other agencies, including using cadaver dogs to search for remains of victims and help reunite separated families.
“LA County endured another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
The fierce Santa Ana winds that had fueled the infernos subsided Friday evening. But the Palisades Fire on the western edge of the city took a new direction as winds blew in from the Pacific Ocean.
The fire has destroyed entire neighborhoods and left behind the smoldering ruins of people’s homes and belongings.
Before the recent outbreak, firefighters had reported progress in containing the Palisades Fire and the fire Eaton (NYSE:) Fire in the foothills east of the metropolis after burning out of control for days.
In Altadena, official Don Fregulia said dealing with the Eaton Fire and its impacts will be a “huge Herculean task” that he said will require “many weeks of work.”
The two major fires combined have destroyed over 36,000 acres (14,500 hectares) or 56 square miles (145 square kilometers) – two and a half times the land area of
Seven neighboring states, the federal government, as well as Canada and Mexico have sent relief supplies and firefighters to California, adding to air crews dropping water and fire retardant on the burning hills and ground crews attacking fire lines with hand tools and hoses.
Officials have declared a public health emergency due to the thick, toxic smoke.
HOUSES REDUCED TO ASHES
Pacific Palisades residents who retreated to their devastated neighborhoods Friday were shocked to find brick chimneys atop charred debris and burned-out vehicles as acrid smoke hung in the air.
“This was a house that was loved,” said Kelly Foster, 44, as she combed through the rubble where her home once stood.
Foster’s 16-year-old daughter Ada said she tried to get inside, but “I just felt sick.” I just couldn’t even… Yeah, it’s hard.”
In Rick McGeagh’s Palisades neighborhood, only six of 60 houses remained, and only a statue of the Virgin Mary remained standing at his ranch house.
“Everything else is ashes and rubble,” said McGeagh, 61, a commercial real estate agent who, along with his wife, raised three children in their home.
On Friday morning, hundreds of people flocked to a parking lot near the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena to donate clothing, diapers and water bottles.
Denise Doss, 63, said she was desperate to return to her destroyed Altadena home to see if anything could be salvaged, but officials detained her for safety reasons.
“At least to say goodbye until we can rebuild. I will let God guide me,” Doss said.
BILLION LOSSES
Many Altadena residents said they feared state funds would flow to wealthier areas and that insurers could shortchange those who can’t afford to challenge fire claim denials.
Aside from those who lost their homes, tens of thousands were left without power and millions of people were exposed to worse air quality as the fires released trace amounts of metals, plastics and other synthetic materials.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated damage and economic losses at $135 billion to $150 billion, suggesting a struggling recovery and sharply rising insurance costs for homeowners.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Friday asked insurers to suspend outstanding non-renewals and cancellations that homeowners received before the fires began and to extend the payment deadline.
President Joe Biden has declared the fires a major disaster and said the U.S. government would reimburse 100% of reconstruction costs for the next six months.
Law enforcement officials warned residents to abide by curfews while arrests were made for burglary, looting and possession of concealed firearms.
“If you go out there and violate this curfew, you will spend time in jail,” Luna warned.
