A series of, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions The terrible forest fire broke out on Tuesday. and rumbled across the Los Angeles area, destroying hundreds of homes and killing at least 16 people, incl Some who died trying to stop the fire. By storming their homes.
A Los Angeles County fire official said countless critical injuries were linked to the two fires, and a city official in Los Angeles called Tuesday night “the most devastating and terrifying” he has seen. I saw it in the corner. The city
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“It’s looking worse and worse as we get more information,” climate scientist Daniel Swain said.
What do we know about fire?
Where are the fires?
The Palisades Fire A brush fire broke out Tuesday morning in Pacific Palisades, a Los Angeles neighborhood east of Malibu. By Sunday evening, the fire had grown to more than 23,713 acres. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire ProtectionKnown as Cal Fire. It comprised 11 percent, And Cal Fire said 5,316 structures are expected to be damaged or destroyed by the fire.
Eton Fire The fire broke out Tuesday night near a valley in the sprawling national forest north of downtown Los Angeles. As of Sunday evening, it had burned to 14,117 acres and was 27 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. More than 7,800 structures are expected to be damaged or destroyed in the fire, the agency said.
Hurst Fire It started as a brush fire Tuesday night in Sylmar, a suburb north of San Fernando. By Saturday night, it had spread to 799 acres and was 89 percent contained. Cal Fire. Cal Fire said Two structures are expected to be damaged or destroyed in the fire.
As firefighters battled the largest blaze, additional fires broke out in the Los Angeles area on Wednesday and Friday. Crews were able to stop the advance and bring the fire under control. As of Sunday evening, the Lydia, Archer, Woodley, Sunset and Kenneth fires were 100% contained and no longer considered active, according to Cal Fire. An area of 1539 acres was burnt due to fire between them.
How many people are affected?
More than 150,000 people are under evacuation notices, with the number approaching 200,000 as crews battle the blaze.
The fire has destroyed entire neighborhoods and blocks, leaving an unknown number of people homeless.
Are there deaths and injuries?
According to Los Angeles County officials, at least 16 people have died in the fire as of Sunday evening.
The county medical examiner’s office is still investigating many of the deaths. The department noted that it cannot authenticate human remains until it processes them at its own facility.
At least 11 deaths occurred in the Eaton fire and five in the Palisades fire, officials said.
The medical examiner’s office said it could take weeks to confirm the identities of those killed.
Authorities on Thursday began accessing areas for welfare checks and missing-persons reports, and warned that the death toll could rise.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marvin said a large number of people who did not follow evacuation orders were injured in the Palisades fire. He also said that there were significant injuries in the Eaton fire.
How much damage was caused by the fire?
gave Insured Losses According to estimates published by JP Morgan on Thursday, this week’s fires could exceed $20 billion, and total economic losses could reach $50 billion.
Those losses would far exceed the $12.5 billion in insured losses. 2018 CampfireThat was by far the costliest fire in the nation’s history, according to Aon data.
What caused the fire?
gave Official cause of fire has not been determined.
A combination of drought-like conditions — Southern California has averaged less than 10% of its rainfall since Oct. 1 — and powerful offshore winds that hit the region Tuesday have fueled the fire season, In the words of the National Weather Service“As bad as it gets.”
The agency issued a red flag warning for 19 million people – indicating an increased risk of fire danger. Winds of up to 70 mph were recorded at several locations across the region.
Swain pointed to the vagaries of California’s weather in recent years — between droughts and heavy rains — and said such swings are a key factor in the fire season sweeping the region.
“It’s not just that drier conditions are more persistent in a warming climate,” he said, according to Inside Climate News. “It’s that this oscillation back and forth between states is something that is particularly consequential for wildfire risk in Southern California.”
When will the fire season end?
Another round of Santa Ana winds is expected Tuesday through Wednesday and could be stronger than the initial winds that saw the start and spread of two of the largest fires, according to the National Weather Service.
Winds of 30 to 50 mph are expected through Tuesday and very dry weather is expected to persist.
“Severe fire weather conditions combined with extremely dry vegetation will favor the rapid spread and erratic behavior of any new or existing fires,” the weather service said Saturday. Discussion of predictions.
A red flag warning is in effect for most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties until 6 p.m. local time Wednesday.
No significant precipitation is forecast for the area anytime soon, although a slight increase in humidity, light winds, and light rain is likely next weekend, according to the discussion.