Fire-ravaged Los Angeles got a reprieve on Wednesday when dangerous winds died down, giving hope to exhausted firefighters struggling to extinguish the deadly blaze.
More than a week after hurricane-triggered fires sparked a devastating march that killed two dozen people and left large swaths of the city in ruins, forecasters said the end was in sight. – at least for now.
Onshore winds were poised to bring much-needed moisture in the coming days, National Weather Service forecasters said. AFP.
“There will be a big improvement for tonight and tomorrow, although there will still be some lingering areas of concern,” said Ryan Kittle of the National Weather Service. AFPHe warned, however, that another potentially dangerous drying system was in the offing early next week.
The Eaton Fire and the Palisades fire, which have combined to burn more than 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares), were still burning Wednesday.
Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristen Crowley told reporters that battalions of firefighters from across the United States, as well as from Mexico, were working to extinguish hotspots that could still ignite.
“Infrared flights last night indicated that there were a number of hot spots still burning within the fire marks, and a great deal of attention was paid to quickly resolving any flare-ups to prevent further spread beyond the perimeter,” he said. The fire can be stopped.”
back to school
With tens of thousands of people still homeless because of the fire, life was far from normal in America’s second-largest city.
But children whose schools were damaged or still affected by evacuation orders were welcomed to other institutions.
Stay-at-home mom Carolyn Nick took Emery, 11, and Andrew, 7, to Nora Sterry Elementary on Wednesday after their own school was engulfed in flames.
Nick, whose home was destroyed in the Palisades fire, said the kids need everything normal.
“They don’t need to listen to the adult conversations that my husband and I are having. It’s not good for them,” she said. AFP.
“This is what they need to do here: draw and paint, play and run and laugh.”
The confirmed death toll from the fire is 24, with the Los Angeles County Coroner investigating another possible body.
But the death toll could still rise, as stray dogs continue to painstakingly search hundreds of buildings.
More than 12,000 structures have been demolished, including multimillion-dollar homes in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Estimates of the final cost of the tragedy have now risen to $275 billion, a figure that would make it one of the costliest in American history.
The relief effort was in full force around town, with local, state and federal agencies offering to help with everything from replacing lost driver’s licenses to hotel bills.
A huge private effort was also taking shape, with thousands of volunteers providing food, clothing and baby supplies for those in need.
Hollywood megastar Leonardo DiCaprio was among the donors.
“The Los Angeles wildfires are destroying our city,” the “Titanic” star wrote on Instagram.
“I’m committing $1 million to partner with @rewild’s Rapid Response Program to support both immediate needs and post-fire recovery efforts.”
DiCaprio’s cash comes on top of $1 million in donations from co-stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Eva Longoria.
Federal authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, as theories swirl about who was responsible.
“We know everyone wants answers, and the community deserves answers,” said Jose Medina of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“The ATF will give you those answers, but only after we have completed a full investigation.”