Los Angeles firefighters braced for fierce winds on Tuesday that could worsen two major wildfires, which have already claimed 24 lives, destroyed thousands of structures, and scorched an area the size of Washington, D.C. Hurricane-force winds of up to 75 mph (120 kph) were forecast to hit the region, with gusts of 50 to 70 mph expected through Wednesday. A red flag warning was in effect as dry, powerful Santa Ana winds intensified overnight.
More than 8,500 firefighters worked overnight to contain the Palisades and Eaton fires, preventing them from spreading further. “This setup is about as bad as it gets,” Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said, urging residents to stay vigilant. While the fires were somewhat contained, authorities pre-positioned additional firefighting crews across Southern California, which remained under high fire danger.
A new fire, dubbed the Auto Fire, erupted in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, on Tuesday, burning 56 acres of scrubland. While it was moving quickly, officials said it was not immediately threatening homes.
The Palisades Fire, which has destroyed upscale neighborhoods on Los Angeles’ western side, has burned 23,713 acres and is 14% contained. The Eaton Fire, located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, has scorched 14,117 acres and is 33% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Altogether, the wildfires have ravaged over 12,000 structures, turning entire neighborhoods into ruins. The fires have forced the evacuation of 92,000 people in Los Angeles County, down from more than 150,000, while another 89,000 remain under evacuation warnings.
Lorraine Bryan, 63, whose home in Altadena was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, expressed concern about securing insulin and rebuilding her life. “I need my medication,” she said. “I’m trying to see who can help us.”
Sheriff Robert Luna reported that deputies were finding human remains daily in the burned-out areas of Altadena, and warned the death toll was expected to rise.
California Governor Gavin Newsom described the fires as potentially the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history and confirmed the fires had already become the costliest wildfire in terms of insured losses. Meanwhile, 10 people were arrested in connection to the fires, including nine for residential burglaries in fire-ravaged neighborhoods. One person was arrested for arson after allegedly attempting to set a tree on fire in Azusa.
In the wake of the fires, a lawsuit was filed against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, accusing the utility of failing to maintain a crucial water reservoir during the Palisades Fire, a claim the department has yet to address publicly.
President Joe Biden offered condolences to the victims and announced additional disaster aid for California. At the same time, some Republican lawmakers have criticized the state’s leadership, accusing them of mismanaging water resources and forest management. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to visit the disaster zone after his inauguration next week.
In response to the disaster, major banks like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America have announced they will ease mortgage payments for those affected, while insurers face unprecedented losses.