LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Firefighters were making slow progress in battling an inferno that leveled parts of Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades neighborhood, but still spreading flames threatened communities in the populous San Fernando Valley on Sunday.
Planes were dropping water and fire retardant on steep hillsides to stop the eastward spread of the Palisades fire, and KTLA television reported that ground crews were able to save a number of homes, although others were lost.
“LA County had another night of unimaginable horror and grief,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
At least 16 people have been killed by six simultaneous fires that have hit the United States' second-largest city since Tuesday, the Washington Post and other media reported, citing the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office. Reuters could not reach the coroner.
At least 13 people are believed to be missing.
The flames damaged or destroyed 12,000 structures, fire officials said. The flames turned entire neighborhoods into smoldering ruins, destroying the homes of the rich and famous and ordinary people alike, and leaving an apocalyptic landscape.
Over the past 24 hours, the Palisades fire has spread to an additional 1,000 acres (400 hectares) and consumed more homes, officials said.
Cal Fire official Todd Hopkins said while the Palisades fire was now 11% contained, it had burned more than 22,000 acres.
Hopkins said at a news conference that the fire has spread into Mandeville Canyon and threatens to jump into Brentwood, an upscale neighborhood that is home to many celebrities, and into the San Fernando Valley. It also shifted toward the north-south 405 freeway.
SANTA WINDS
Although the Santa Ana winds that fanned the flames calmed Saturday, the National Weather Service warned that stronger gusts of up to 70 mph (110 km/h) could return early next week.
A Red Flag warning is in effect for LA and Ventura counties until Wednesday, the NWS said.
“These winds combined with dry air and dry vegetation will maintain the fire threat in the area,” it said. Conditions were expected to ease by Thursday.
On Saturday, some residents were able to return to the sites of their destroyed homes to see what they could salvage from the rubble. Teams with the LA County Sheriff's Department worked to sift through the rubble with sniffer dogs to look for human remains.
Evacuation orders in the Los Angeles area now cover 153,000 residents. Another 166,000 residents were warned they may have to evacuate, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
FEDERAL AID
President Joe Biden spoke by phone with officials to get an update on their efforts, and aides briefed him on federal resources that had been dispatched.
His major disaster declaration unlocked federal aid for those affected by the wildfires and cleared the way for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide support.
Support can range from funding for home repairs to money to replace lost food or medicine, FEMA spokesman Michael Hart said, adding that help can be provided within days.
But President-elect Donald Trump criticized local and state officials who he believed had mishandled the situation.
“The fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent Poles have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of beautiful homes are gone and many more will soon be lost. There is death everywhere… they just can't what's wrong with them? he said on his Truth social media channel.
Los Angeles Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Kathryn Barger told reporters she had invited Trump — who takes office Jan. 20 — to visit the district to see the devastation firsthand.
WEEKS OF WORK
In Altadena, an official, Fr Fregulia, said he was driving Eaton (NYSE: ) The fire and its impact will be a “huge, Herculean task” that will take “many weeks of work,” he said.
The two major fires combined consumed more than 36,000 acres (14,500 hectares), or 56 square miles (145 km2)—2-1/2 times the area of Manhattan—in one of the worst disasters in Los Angeles history.
Officials declared a public health emergency due to thick toxic smoke and poor air quality as the fires left traces of metals, plastics and other synthetic materials.
However, progress has been reported in bringing electricity back to Los Angeles neighborhoods. Southern California Edison CEO Steven Powell said about 50,000 customers are now without power, down from more than half a million days ago.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, leading to soaring homeowner insurance costs.
In his weekly address to the faithful in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Pope Francis said: “I am close to the people of Los Angeles…where devastating fires have broken out in recent days. I am praying for all of you.”
