Wildfires Ravage Los Angeles, Leaving 10 Dead and Thousands Displaced as National Guard Mobilizes
Massive wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed at least 10 lives, displaced over 180,000 residents, and left large swathes of the city in ruins. Authorities reported Thursday that the fires, which have devastated neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades and Altadena, are still spreading, despite a concerted firefighting effort. A temporary break in winds allowed helicopters to aid in battling the flames, but new fires continued to break out as conditions worsened.
Governor Gavin Newsom mobilized the state’s National Guard to help restore order, as reports of looting emerged. The National Guard and local law enforcement, including Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, were deployed to enforce curfews and patrol evacuation zones, with Luna emphasizing that anyone found looting or lingering in evacuated areas would be arrested. Newsom warned that the state would not tolerate any exploitation of the chaos caused by the fires.
The most destructive blaze, currently ravaging the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, has already burned nearly 20,000 acres. Another fire in Altadena has consumed over 13,700 acres, and although firefighters have begun to control some areas, strong winds and new outbreaks of fire continue to pose a threat. A fire near Calabasas also forced additional evacuations, with flames rapidly growing to almost 1,000 acres in a matter of hours.
In response to the devastation, President Joe Biden announced additional federal funding and resources to assist California in combating the fires. However, firefighting efforts have been hindered by challenges such as a drone collision that grounded a firefighting plane, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to warn that flying drones in fire zones could result in jail time.
For many evacuees, the return to their homes has been traumatic, with scenes of utter destruction. Kalen Astoor, a local paralegal, described the devastation as “death and destruction,” noting that while her mother’s house had survived, many others had not.
An aerial survey of Malibu and the Pacific Palisades revealed the full extent of the damage, with multi-million dollar homes completely destroyed, some possibly washed into the ocean. In Malibu, skeletal remains of once-opulent homes were visible, while in Pacific Palisades, entire blocks that were once filled with luxury homes now resembled graveyards.
As emergency services continue to battle the fires, meteorologists warn that critical fire conditions, with high winds and dry conditions, are expected to persist. While Southern California’s wet years have provided some moisture, the current dry spell has left vegetation highly susceptible to fire, exacerbating the situation.
With power outages, school closures, and major events canceled or moved, the impact of the fires is being felt throughout the region, with residents bracing for more destruction as the fires continue to burn.
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