At least two people have been killed, and many others injured, as multiple wildfires swept through Southern California under dry and windy conditions, according to reports from ABC News.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed during a press conference on Wednesday that the Eaton Fire claimed two lives and caused numerous injuries. ABC News reported, meanwhile, an estimated 1,000 structures were destroyed in the Palisades Fire. Officials said there were injuries due to the fire.
In the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, the Palisades Fire has scorched over 5,000 acres and destroyed an estimated 1,000 structures. Tens of thousands of residents were forced to evacuate as the fire spread rapidly. Local officials also reported injuries connected to this fire.
Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire, located miles away in Altadena, has burned 2,227 acres with no containment reported. In San Fernando, the Hurst Fire ignited and has already consumed at least 500 acres.
Power outages have compounded the crisis, with over 245,000 customers in Los Angeles County affected as of 8:40 a.m. local time, according to poweroutage.us. Authorities have urged residents to heed evacuation orders to ensure their safety and protect first responders.
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief James McDonnell acknowledged that the region’s emergency response resources are stretched thin. “Los Angeles County and its 29 fire departments are not equipped to handle four simultaneous fires of this magnitude,” McDonnell stated, despite efforts to preposition resources from northern California.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to support affected communities and visited the Palisades Fire site, meeting with state and local officials. “This is a highly dangerous windstorm creating extreme fire risk, and we’re not out of the woods yet,” Newsom said, expressing gratitude to first responders for their swift actions.
The Biden-Harris administration has been in regular contact with state and local leaders, offering federal support. According to a White House statement, four U.S. Forest Service Large Air Tankers and ten federal firefighting helicopters are actively assisting in fire suppression efforts. FEMA has approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to reimburse California for firefighting expenses.
Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of vigilance, urging residents to follow evacuation orders and stay informed through official channels. President Joe Biden echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for communities to prioritize safety as firefighting efforts continue.
California officials remain focused on containing the fires as weather conditions pose ongoing challenges.