Wildfires raging across greater Los Angeles have killed at least five people, destroyed neighborhoods, and forced the evacuation of approximately 180,000 individuals as the fires enter their third day. An additional 200,000 people are under evacuation warnings. The fires have been fueled by high winds, though a decrease in wind speeds overnight has offered some relief. Another surge of strong winds is expected later Thursday into Friday, with gusts reaching up to 60 mph.
As of Thursday morning, five active wildfires are burning in Los Angeles County. The Palisades Fire, the largest of these, has scorched over 17,200 acres around the Pacific Palisades, one of the most expensive and iconic neighborhoods in Los Angeles. This fire, according to Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, is one of the most destructive in the city’s history, having destroyed over 300 structures since Tuesday. More than 800 firefighters are working to control the blaze.
On the east side of the city, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena has claimed five lives and burned through 10,600 acres. It remains uncontained, and authorities have expressed concerns that the death toll may rise as they continue to assess the damage. In the Hollywood Hills, the Sunset Fire began Wednesday evening, quickly spreading to 60 acres and triggering evacuations in the Hollywood area. Firefighters have also battled smaller fires, such as the Lidia Fire in Antelope Valley, which has burned 348 acres and is 40 percent contained, and the Hurst Fire in San Fernando, which has spread to 855 acres but remains only 10 percent contained.
Authorities continue to grapple with the human toll of the fires. Sheriff Robert G. Luna noted that the number of fatalities is still uncertain, with the true extent of the damage still being assessed. He warned that, based on preliminary information from the Palisades and Eaton fires, the death toll may rise as crews work under difficult conditions to locate missing persons. While officials are hopeful that they won’t find too many more fatalities, Luna acknowledged the scale of the devastation and the challenges faced by emergency responders.
The damage from the wildfires is also expected to be catastrophic, with JPMorgan Chase estimating the total cost to approach nearly $50 billion, according to a letter sent to its clients.
