Wildfires ravage Los Angeles, leaving five dead, thousands displaced
Wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles have claimed at least five lives and destroyed over 1,500 buildings, forcing more than 100,000 residents to flee their homes.
The fires, intensified by hurricane-force winds, have overwhelmed firefighters and devastated affluent areas like Pacific Palisades, home to many Hollywood celebrities.
In the Pacific Palisades alone, flames consumed 16,000 acres, destroying 1,000 homes and businesses. Meanwhile, a separate fire in Altadena razed 10,600 acres, with up to 500 structures lost.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed five fatalities, warning of the possibility of more as zero containment efforts continued.
Late Wednesday, a fire erupted in Runyon Canyon, close to iconic Hollywood landmarks like the Walk of Fame and Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, prompting evacuation orders that caused gridlock in the heart of the city. Firefighters deployed aerial water drops to curb the rapidly spreading flames.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone admitted that resources are stretched thin. “We’re doing our best, but the scale and speed of these disasters are overwhelming,” he said.
Residents, like William Gonzales, expressed despair over the destruction. “The flames have consumed all our dreams,” he said after losing his Altadena home.
President Joe Biden has prioritized federal responses to the crisis, canceling a planned trip to Italy. AccuWeather estimates the economic losses could reach $57 billion, making this one of the costliest wildfires in history.
Scientists attribute the ferocity of the fires to climate change, citing prolonged droughts followed by heavy rains that fueled vegetation growth, creating a tinderbox.
