Los Angeles wildfires kill 14 as rescue efforts battled By Reuters

By Nathan Frandino and Jackie Luna

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Firefighters have made slow progress in their battle to contain an explosion that has burned large swathes of Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades, but flames and strong winds continue to threaten communities and authorities warned on Sunday that there was a death. the number of 14 people could go up.

Airplanes dropped water and fire extinguishers on steep hillsides to stop the Palisades Fire from spreading east and KTLA television reported that ground crews were able to save several homes, though others were lost.

“LA County has experienced another night of unimaginable fear and heartache,” said Los Angeles County Executive Lindsey Horvath.

Six simultaneous wildfires have engulfed America’s second-largest city since Tuesday, killing at least 14 people as of Sunday morning. At least 16 others are believed to be missing.

California Governor Gavin Newsom says he expects the death toll to rise. “I have search and rescue teams. We have cadaver dogs and there may be more,” he told NBC’s “Meet the Press” program.

Newsom said the fire may be the worst natural disaster in American history “in terms of the costs associated with it.”

Active-duty military personnel are ready to support firefighting efforts, FEMA Director Deanne Criswell said in a series of televised interviews Sunday, adding that the agency encouraged residents to start applying for aid.

“We have the money to support this response, to support this recovery,” he told ABC’s “This Week.”

The fires damaged or destroyed 12,000 structures, fire officials said. On Sunday, more than 100,000 people in Los Angeles County were ordered to evacuate, while another 87,000 faced evacuation warnings.

The flames have turned neighborhoods into smoking ruins, destroying the homes of the rich and famous and ordinary people alike, and leaving an unsettled landscape. In the past 24 hours, the Palisades Fire has spread over an additional 1,000 hectares (400 acres), burning several homes, officials reported.

Cal Fire Chief Todd Hopkins said that while the Palisades Fire is 11% contained, it has burned more than 22,000 acres (8,900 hectares).

Hopkins told a press conference that the fire had spread into Mandeville Canyon and was threatening to spread to Brentwood, a high-rise residential area with many celebrities, and the San Fernando Valley. It was also on the 405 north-south freeway.

SANTA ANA SPIRIT

Dozens of Brentwood residents hoping to return to areas evacuated by the Palisades Fire began waiting around 5 a.m. Sunday, as volunteers handed out coffee and donuts. They were refused entry by the authorities who said that the area was still very dangerous.

“When you drive around some of these places, they really look like war zones. There are power poles down, power lines. There are still fires burning. be safe,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

Although the Santa Ana winds that fueled the flames calmed some over the weekend, the National Weather Service warned that gusts of up to 70 mph (110 kph) could return early next week. Local officials said they expect the strongest winds to occur on Tuesday.

Red Flag warnings remain in effect for the LA and Ventura areas through Wednesday, the NWS said.

“These winds, along with dry air and dry vegetation, will maintain the threat of fire weather in the region,” it said. Conditions were expected to improve on Thursday.

Some residents were allowed to return to their damaged homes on Saturday to see what they could salvage. Teams with the LA County Sheriff’s Department were working to comb through the rubble with dogs to search for human remains.

HELP ORGANIZATION

President Joe Biden was supposed to call key officials for a discussion Sunday afternoon about efforts to prevent wildfires across Los Angeles and how federal resources are supporting the state and local response.

His declaration of a major disaster opened up federal aid for those affected by the wildfires, clearing the way for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide support.

“FEMA is now beginning to support, with a major disaster announcement, people affected by the disaster,” Criswell said on Fox News Sunday, urging people to register for assistance through the DisasterAssistance.gov website.

Assistance can range from funds to repair homes to money to replace lost food or medicine, FEMA spokesman Michael Hart said, adding that assistance can be provided within days.

Newsom also signed an executive order to reduce the amount of federal red tape needed to rebuild lost homes and businesses.

However, President-elect Donald Trump has criticized local and federal officials who he believes have mishandled the situation.

“Fires are burning in L.A. Politicians don’t know how to put them out. Thousands of homes are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death everywhere. .. they just can’t put out the fires, he said on the Social media feed.

Los Angeles Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Kathryn Barger told reporters that she invited Trump – who takes office on January 20 – to visit the district to see the destruction firsthand.

‘WORK WEEK’

Altadena, officer Don Fregulia said to control Eaton (NYSE:) The fire and its aftermath will be a “huge, Herculean task” that he said will take “many weeks of work.”

The Cal Fire website reported that the Eaton Fire was 27% contained, up from 15% on Saturday, after burning 14,117 acres.

The two large fires combined burned more than 36,000 acres (14,500 hectares), or 56 square miles (145 square km) – 2-1/2 times the area of ​​Manhattan – in one of the disasters​​​​ worst in Los Angeles history.

Officials have declared a public health emergency because of thick, toxic smoke that hangs over the city and thin air as the fire upends metal, plastic and other synthetic materials.

Progress was reported in restoring power to parts of Los Angeles. Edison’s Southern California manager, Steven Powell, said there are now about 50,000 customers without power, up from more than half a million days earlier.

Private analyst AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, reflecting the rising cost of homeowners insurance.

Pope Francis in his weekly address to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square said: “I am close to the people of Los Angeles … where the devastating fires have broken out in recent days. I am praying for you all.”