LOS ANGELES — A new wildfire erupted on Thursday, prompting evacuation orders in areas surrounding Los Angeles, even as firefighters experienced a brief respite aided by calmer winds, marking the first signs of progress against the region’s ongoing wildfires. The extent of the damage began to become clearer amidst the battle against these catastrophic blazes.
The rapidly advancing Kenneth Fire began late Thursday afternoon in the San Fernando Valley close to West Hills and near Ventura County. The evacuation efforts covered designated areas in both Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Information from Los Angeles County officials revealed that the Eaton Fire, which ignited on Tuesday evening near Pasadena, has destroyed upwards of 5,000 structures. These structures include not only homes but also apartment complexes, businesses, and vehicles. In Pacific Palisades, which is also affected, the largest fire in the area has obliterated more than 5,300 structures. Collectively, the fires have consumed more than 10,000 structures in the region.
Notably, these significant wildfires are primarily situated within a 25-mile stretch to the north of downtown Los Angeles. The Kenneth Fire began less than two miles from the El Camino Real Charter High School, where evacuees are currently sheltering. The two principal fires are approximately 10 miles apart from one another.
In Pacific Palisades, extensive destruction has left neighborhoods in ruins, with only the outlines of homes and remnants of chimneys visible among the debris. Malibu’s picturesque landscape has been marred, revealing only charred palm trees standing above heaps of ash where beautiful oceanfront properties once stood. Reports indicate that more than five churches, a synagogue, several schools, libraries, and numerous businesses have been lost in the disaster. Local historic sites like the Will Rogers’ Western Ranch House and the Topanga Ranch Motel, both established in the 1920s, were also reduced to ashes. Officials have not yet released complete details regarding the financial impact or the total number of destroyed properties.
AccuWeather, a private weather analytics firm, has revised its damage estimates, forecasting losses between $135 billion and $150 billion. Even as city leaders received encouraging news about firefighting efforts slowing the two dominant fires raging from Pacific Palisades to Altadena, another community near Pasadena, caution remains high.
Firefighters made strides in Hollywood Hills, allowing for the lifting of certain evacuation orders. This fire approached dangerously close to the Hollywood Bowl, a renowned outdoor venue, before crews intervened. According to Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, despite significant threats remaining, hope is growing that conditions are improving.
Thanks to aerial water drops, firefighting teams gained crucial momentum in containing the flames in Hollywood Hills and Studio City, remarked Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. The destruction had escalated significantly after aircraft were forced to ground due to strong winds earlier in the week.
As wind gusts were expected to increase Thursday evening into Friday, there are worries regarding potential worsening conditions early next week, according to the National Weather Service. However, Thursday’s forecasts presented an opportunity for firefighters, including those coming from allied states and Canada, to manage blazes that have resulted in at least seven confirmed fatalities and forced thousands to evacuate.
Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Erik Scott explained that the successful containment of the Hollywood Hills fire came from aggressive responses and a slight stroke of luck from the weather. Fire officials remain in the dark concerning the causes of the various ignitions and have initiated a thorough investigation.
Earlier in the week, hurricane-strength winds gusting up to 80 mph facilitated the spread of embers, igniting brush and vegetation across Southern California. Barbara Bruderlin, representing the Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, described the devastation as beyond measure, remarking that entire areas had been utterly leveled.
From the fatalities reported, two occurred within the Pacific Palisades area as confirmed by the Los Angeles Fire Chief. Recovery crews and cadaver dogs continue to sift through the wreckage, with the death toll expected to rise. One heart-wrenching story involves Anthony Mitchell, a 67-year-old man, and his son who were unable to evacuate in time, while another individual tragically lost their life while attempting to battle the advancing flames.
On Thursday, crews recovered a body from the debris of a beachfront home in Malibu, which had been completely consumed by the fire. While no substantial progress has been made in containing the two primary fires, officials stated that both are currently at 0% containment.
Evacuation orders currently affect at least 180,000 residents, and the fires have spread across an area roughly measuring 45 square miles, comparable to the size of San Francisco. The Palisades Fire has already been deemed the most destructive in Los Angeles’s history. In response to reported looting incidents, officials have made at least 20 arrests, and a citywide curfew was put in place in Santa Monica as a precautionary measure from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Numerous celebrities have also lost their homes to the flames, including well-known figures such as Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore, and Paris Hilton. Jamie Lee Curtis has made a generous pledge of $1 million to help establish a support fund for those affected by the fires, acknowledging the widespread impact felt across various socioeconomic backgrounds.
As California grapples with an increasingly extended fire season attributed to rising temperatures and diminished rainfall due to climate shifts, reports emphasize that dry winds have contributed to the ongoing fires. Residents are left to navigate the aftermath of these wildfires, grappling with the loss of their homes and personal histories. Robert Lara, who was sifting through the remains of his home in Altadena, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of cherished family heirlooms now gone forever.
