A scene from Palisades Fire where firefighters have been continuously working to contain the flames.
California is grappling with a devastating series of wildfires, threatening lives and livelihoods across the state.
Governor Gavin Newsom has warned that these fires could be among the worst natural disasters in U.S. history in terms of cost and scale.
The economic toll is staggering, with preliminary estimates of losses reaching hundreds of billions of dollars. Reportedly, the overall financial losses are projected to reach $250 billion.
The wildfire situation in Los Angeles, California, remains critical. Firefighters are battling three major blazes: the Palisades, the Eaton, and the Hurst fires. These infernos have claimed at least 24 lives — with many still missing.
As per CalFire, the Palisades Fire is the most significant, having consumed over 23,713 acres and is only 13% contained. The Eaton Fire follows, burning over 14,117 acres with 27% containment.
While the Hurst Fire has grown to 799 acres, it is nearly 89% contained. After scorching over 1,000 acres, the Kenneth Fire was brought under complete control.
The current wildfires are a result of a prolonged dry spell coupled with strong Santa Ana winds.
As per BBC, the fierce Santa Ana winds are expected to return this week, which could add more fuel to the already raging fires.
After a brief respite over the weekend, these fierce winds are forecast to intensify from Sunday night through Wednesday, reaching speeds of up to 60 mph (96km/h).
Firefighters from across the country, as well as Canada and Mexico, are assisting local crews in battling the blazes.
The firefighting effort in Southern California involves a massive deployment of 14,000 firefighters. They are supported by 84 aircraft and 1,354 fire engines in the battle against the wildfires.
Tens of thousands of residents remain under evacuation orders or warnings as the fires continue to threaten communities. Roughly 105,000 residents are currently mandated to evacuate, and 87,000 are under evacuation warnings.
Evacuation centers are set up to provide shelter and support to those displaced.
The wildfires have tragically resulted in 16 fatalities linked to the Eaton Fire and eight to the Palisades Fire. Search and rescue operations for missing individuals are also underway.
The fires have caused widespread devastation, destroying thousands of homes, businesses, and places of worship.
The wildfires have already destroyed more than 12,000 structures. Sadly, officials anticipate that this number will continue to rise in the coming days.
New fires erupted on Sunday, posing a threat to communities in the San Fernando Valley and the vicinity of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The new fires ignited within the Angeles National Forest were successfully contained by the firefighters. This protected the vital research facility.
Over 24,000 individuals have already submitted applications for disaster assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Reports indicate that some fire hydrants ran dry during the initial firefighting efforts, raising concerns about the water supply.
As per NBC News, President-elect Donald Trump criticized Newsom and President Joe Biden due to the absence of water in fire hydrants. He posted on Truth Social: “NO WATER IN THE FIRE HYDRANTS, NO MONEY IN FEMA. THIS IS WHAT JOE BIDEN IS LEAVING ME. THANKS JOE!”
The fight against these devastating fires continues. These catastrophic wildfires have severely impacted wildlife also.
Over 400 animals, including dogs, horses, donkeys, goats, and sheep, have been brought to the Pasadena Humane facility since the Southern California wildfires began. Reportedly, animal shelters, veterinarians, and rescue organizations are working together to provide care and assistance to these displaced animals and their owners.
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