Los Angeles Fires Continue to Rage Amidst High Winds.
Parts of Los Angeles remain engulfed in flames as high winds persist, posing significant challenges for firefighters who are now entering the second week of battling these destructive wildfires.
The blazes have burned over 40,000 acres, with damage estimates reaching up to $275 billion, impacting the region’s economy severely. As of Tuesday, more than 88,000 people were under evacuation orders, with an additional 84,000 facing warnings.
Fire officials are bracing for potentially deadly new winds, with Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley stating, “Life-threatening and destructive winds are already here.” The National Weather Service has warned of “extreme” fire danger conditions through at least Tuesday, with critical conditions expected on Wednesday throughout much of Southern California.
One piece of potentially good news: winds, which have been spreading the fires and complicating firefighting efforts, are expected to generally weaken by Wednesday evening.
Assessing the Impact of the LA Fires
The extent of the destruction caused by the LA fires is beginning to surface. AccuWeather’s estimates account for damages beyond just buildings and infrastructure, including the financial impacts of evacuation orders, long-term rebuilding costs, anticipated cleanup and recovery expenses, emergency shelter costs, healthcare costs for those injured or exposed to unhealthy air quality, and lost wages for affected workers.
Goldman Sachs has projected that the total damage from the LA fires will rank among the top 20 costliest natural disasters relative to GDP in U.S. history.
However, as damage estimates rise, some individuals are seeking to profit from the situation. Reports have emerged of people placing bets on the LA fires and instances of price-gouging on housing, hotels, and medical supplies.
Since the fires began on January 7, firefighters have managed to contain several smaller blazes in Los Angeles County. However, the three largest— the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires— have burned a combined 38,629 acres as of Tuesday morning, with limited containment.
Around 88,000 residents remain under evacuation orders, while an additional 84,000 are under warnings. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna noted that while evacuation numbers have decreased since Monday, “it is still very dangerous for the next 24 hours, so we’re keeping a very close eye.”
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned of “critical to extremely critical fire-weather conditions” that could persist across parts of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties through Wednesday.
Dry, fast winds over open brushland have fueled the growth of the Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst fires, which continue to burn. More than 8,500 firefighters are currently battling these blazes, which have resulted in at least 25 reported fatalities and the destruction of more than 12,000 structures, including homes, businesses, and vehicles.
The Palisades Fire, located in the Pacific Palisades area north of Santa Monica, has burned over 23,700 acres and is 17% contained as of Tuesday night, according to Cal Fire. The cause of this fire, the first to ignite last week, remains under investigation, with several celebrity homes reportedly destroyed.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has received reports of eight deaths linked to the Palisades Fire so far.
The Eaton Fire, which has devastated parts of Pasadena and Altadena since last week, has burned through over 14,100 acres and is currently 35% contained as of Tuesday night.
“It’s one thing to see it on television; it’s another thing to see it from the air,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated during a Tuesday morning briefing, referencing the immense devastation she observed during an aerial tour. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has recorded 17 deaths associated with the Eaton Fire thus far.
Multiple other fires have erupted in the last week due to the ongoing high winds in the region. The Hurst Fire, which started last week in the northern part of the San Fernando Valley, has spread to 799 acres and is 97% contained as of Tuesday night, according to Cal Fire. The Auto Fire, which ignited Monday night in Ventura, has burned 56 acres and is 25% contained, with officials reporting that its forward progress has been halted and no structures are currently threatened.
After burning over 1,400 acres combined, several other fires have been fully contained, including the Kenneth Fire near the border of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, the Lidia Fire near Antelope Valley, and the Woodley Fire in the south San Fernando Valley.
