LOS ANGELES — Fire crews made significant progress on Thursday in combating severe wildfires in the Los Angeles region, as the fierce winds that had fueled the rapid spread of the flames began to subside. However, several major blazes continued to burn uncontrollably within the area.
A significant fire that ignited Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, a locale renowned for its proximity to the entertainment sector, saw a major threat being neutralized, allowing officials to lift previous evacuation orders by the following morning.
“I remain optimistic that we are beginning to see improvements,” stated LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger during a Thursday morning press briefing.
According to LA Mayor Karen Bass, aerial water drops significantly aided fire crews in managing the flames in Hollywood Hills and Studio City. Many reported damage occurred after aerial operations ceased due to high winds.
Although strong wind gusts still posed a risk on Thursday, forecasts offered hopeful opportunities for firefighters to mitigate the blazes that have tragically resulted in at least five fatalities, devastated areas from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena, and forced thousands to evacuate their homes rapidly.
Overnight flare-ups brightened the Santa Monica Mountains near Pacific Palisades. The full impact of the fires is still being assessed, with LA Fire Chief Kristin Crowley noting that the coastal Palisades Fire has destroyed thousands of structures. “The Palisades fire can surely be termed one of the most catastrophic natural events in Los Angeles history,” she remarked.
The death toll is likely to increase as search teams and cadaver dogs begin to sift through the debris, as shared by Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
The Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills heightened concerns among residents, with smoke rising near famed attractions like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, leading to onlookers recording videos of the inferno.
Fire Department Captain Erik Scott explained that prompt action and somewhat favorable weather conditions permitted firefighters to gain control, stating, “We attacked it aggressively at an early stage and benefitted from better weather today.”
Fires were exacerbated by hurricane-force winds reaching up to 80 mph, causing embers to leap across neighborhoods in areas like Pacific Palisades and Altadena, close to Pasadena.
The flames known as the Palisades and Eaton fires have obliterated thousands of structures, with the five confirmed deaths linked to the Eaton Fire. Although the growth of both fires has slowed, they remain at 0% containment, authorities emphasized.
In Pasadena, Fire Chief Chad Augustin indicated that the local water system was overwhelmed, compounded by power outages; however, even if those issues were resolved, the rapid speeds of the fire were difficult to control. “Those unpredictable wind gusts sent embers flying for miles ahead of the flames,” he stated.
Issues around malfunctioning hydrants and the water system’s failure have been raised in the wake of these destructive fires.
Roughly 180,000 people received evacuation orders, as the fires have scorched about 45 square miles, an area comparable to San Francisco. The Palisades Fire has effectively become the most destructive fire in Los Angeles’ history.
Local resident Jose Velasquez was seen dousing his Altadena home with water as embers fell from the sky. He was lucky enough to save his residence, which also serves as his family’s pastry business. However, many of his neighbors learned their homes had succumbed to the flames while they were away at work.
“Calls went out to those not home, notifying them that their property was lost,” he noted.
In Altadena, around 250 homes were left in ruins, while satellite imagery revealed few homes remained intact, with the majority engulfed in fire. A handful of residences hanging over the Pacific Ocean in Malibu appeared to withstand the disaster.
The wildfires have also claimed properties belonging to numerous celebrities, including Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes, and Paris Hilton. Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, experienced the loss of their home of 45 years to the Palisades Fire.
In response to the calamity, actress Jamie Lee Curtis announced her intention to contribute $1 million to help those impacted by the wildfires get back on their feet.
Several structures in Palisades Village, including the public library and multiple grocery stores, banks, and boutiques, were destroyed.
“It feels surreal to return to a place that has vanished,” commented Dylan Vincent, who was disheartened by the loss of his elementary school to the blaze.
Many Hollywood studios halted their productions temporarily, and Universal Studios opted to close their theme park as a precautionary measure.
The wildfires have rapidly spread in densely populated regions riddled with dry vegetation, preparing the areas for combustion. The speed of the flames left many with little time to escape, resulting in some abandoning their vehicles in their haste to flee.
Climate data indicates that California’s wildfire season is extending due to elevated temperatures and diminished rainfall related to climate change. Rain that typically concludes the fire season has often been delayed, allowing fires to continue burning into the winter months, as per the Western Fire Chiefs Association.
The notorious Santa Ana winds have played a significant role in elevating temperature levels in Southern California, which has experienced minimal rainfall since early May.
