Wednesday, 15 January, 2025
Fierce winds that had fueled the raging wildfires across parts of Los Angeles finally subsided on Friday night, offering a brief respite to exhausted firefighters. However, the largest blaze shifted its course dramatically, triggering fresh evacuation orders and reigniting fears among residents.
Since Tuesday, six simultaneous wildfires have swept through Los Angeles County, leaving a trail of destruction. At least 11 lives have been lost, and approximately 10,000 structures have been damaged or reduced to ashes. Officials cautioned that these figures could rise as firefighters gain access to hard-hit areas to conduct thorough, house-by-house searches.
Late Friday, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Palisades Fire, burning on the city’s western edge, had changed direction. The shift forced authorities to issue evacuation orders covering a significant portion of the upscale Brentwood neighbourhood and the foothills of the San Fernando Valley.
Firefighters continued their relentless battle against the flames, while residents anxiously awaited updates, hoping their homes and loved ones would be spared. With weather conditions showing signs of improvement, officials expressed cautious optimism but warned that the situation remained volatile.
"The Palisades fire has got a new significant flare-up on the eastern portion and continues to move northeast," LA Fire Department Captain Erik Scott told local station KTLA, according to a report on the LA Times website.
Before the latest flare-up, firefighters had reported progress in arresting the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire in the foothills east of the metropolis.
After burning out of control for days, despite the efforts of hundreds of firefighters attacking the blazes from the air and on the ground, the Palisades Fire was 8% contained and the Eaton Fire 3%. Cal Fire had listed containment levels of both fires at 0% until Friday.
Despite some progress, the two massive wildfires together have scorched 35,000 acres (14,100 hectares), equivalent to 54 square miles—an area 2.5 times larger than Manhattan.
The devastation has left thousands of people homeless, and the thickening smoke has prompted U.S. officials to declare a public health emergency, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
Approximately 153,000 residents remain under mandatory evacuation orders, while an additional 166,800 are under evacuation warnings. To ensure safety and prevent chaos, a curfew has been imposed across all evacuation zones, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed.
Seven neighbouring states, the federal government, and Canada have swiftly mobilized aid to California, reinforcing aerial firefighting teams deploying water and fire retardants on the blazing hills, alongside ground crews battling the flames with hand tools and hoses.
“With the increased resources at our disposal, the region is in a far better position than earlier this week,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone stated during a press conference.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that conditions in the Los Angeles area are expected to improve over the weekend, with sustained winds slowing to around 20 mph (32 kph) and gusts ranging from 35 mph to 50 mph—a significant reprieve from the 80 mph gusts experienced earlier.
“It’s not as gusty, which should aid firefighters,” said NWS meteorologist Allison Santorelli. However, she cautioned that the situation remains critical due to low humidity and dry vegetation. Forecasters also warned of a potential red flag warning for Monday.
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Fierce winds that had fueled the raging wildfires across parts of Los Angeles finally subsided on Friday night, offering a brief respite to exhausted firefighters. However, the largest blaze shifted its course dramatically, triggering fresh evacuation orders and reigniting fears among residents.
Since Tuesday, six simultaneous wildfires have swept through Los Angeles County, leaving a trail of destruction. At least 11 lives have been lost, and approximately 10,000 structures have been damaged or reduced to ashes. Officials cautioned that these figures could rise as firefighters gain access to hard-hit areas to conduct thorough, house-by-house searches.
Late Friday, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Palisades Fire, burning on the city’s western edge, had changed direction. The shift forced authorities to issue evacuation orders covering a significant portion of the upscale Brentwood neighbourhood and the foothills of the San Fernando Valley.
Firefighters continued their relentless battle against the flames, while residents anxiously awaited updates, hoping their homes and loved ones would be spared. With weather conditions showing signs of improvement, officials expressed cautious optimism but warned that the situation remained volatile.
"The Palisades fire has got a new significant flare-up on the eastern portion and continues to move northeast," LA Fire Department Captain Erik Scott told local station KTLA, according to a report on the LA Times website.
Before the latest flare-up, firefighters had reported progress in arresting the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire in the foothills east of the metropolis.
After burning out of control for days, despite the efforts of hundreds of firefighters attacking the blazes from the air and on the ground, the Palisades Fire was 8% contained and the Eaton Fire 3%. Cal Fire had listed containment levels of both fires at 0% until Friday.
Despite some progress, the two massive wildfires together have scorched 35,000 acres (14,100 hectares), equivalent to 54 square miles—an area 2.5 times larger than Manhattan.
The devastation has left thousands of people homeless, and the thickening smoke has prompted U.S. officials to declare a public health emergency, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
Approximately 153,000 residents remain under mandatory evacuation orders, while an additional 166,800 are under evacuation warnings. To ensure safety and prevent chaos, a curfew has been imposed across all evacuation zones, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed.
Seven neighbouring states, the federal government, and Canada have swiftly mobilized aid to California, reinforcing aerial firefighting teams deploying water and fire retardants on the blazing hills, alongside ground crews battling the flames with hand tools and hoses.
“With the increased resources at our disposal, the region is in a far better position than earlier this week,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone stated during a press conference.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that conditions in the Los Angeles area are expected to improve over the weekend, with sustained winds slowing to around 20 mph (32 kph) and gusts ranging from 35 mph to 50 mph—a significant reprieve from the 80 mph gusts experienced earlier.
“It’s not as gusty, which should aid firefighters,” said NWS meteorologist Allison Santorelli. However, she cautioned that the situation remains critical due to low humidity and dry vegetation. Forecasters also warned of a potential red flag warning for Monday.
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