Several wildfires have surrounded the Los Angeles Metropolitan area for the past week. Hurricane-force wind gusts have been recorded in Southern California, spreading flames quickly. California Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed over 1,400 firefighting personnel. Other states such as Utah, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and soon Idaho have dispatched teams to assist the situation. Canada has also sent multiple water bombers to put out fires from above ground.
Multiple fires have surrounded the Los Angeles area: the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, and the Sunset Fire. According to California’s Department of Fire Protection, the Palisades Fire, located west of Los Angeles, has grown to 17,000+ acres and has become the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles’ history. The Eaton Fire north of Pasadena has grown to 13,000+ acres and has destroyed 4,000 structures. The Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills grew to 60 acres but has been contained.
Hundreds of thousands of California residents have had their power shut off. Multiple areas in Southern California have been put on “Do Not Drink” orders due to concerns that debris could impact water systems. The Associated Press reports that over 450,000 people were without power on Wednesday, nearly double Boise’s population. 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate.
The California National Guard is working to evacuate people and protect properties from looting. 20 people in Southern California have been arrested for looting properties that have been evacuated. Officials have stated that 10 people have passed away from the fires.
During a White House briefing, President Biden said he was making federal resources available to fight the fires and has approved additional funding. The funding will cover the cost of 180 days of removing hazardous material, temporary shelters, and the salaries of first responders.
Both the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire remain largely uncontained according to the California Department of Fire Protection
