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California wildfires highlights: Santa Ana winds pick up speed; New fire erupts in Ventura County
California wildfires highlights: Firefighters braced for high winds, with the National Weather Service of LA issuing its most serious advisory, “Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS)".
California wildfires highlights: The raging wildfires across Los Angeles claimed the lives of at least 24 people, with the toll likely to mount as several others remain missing. The monstrous fires have destroyed more than 12,000 structures, forcing over 150,000 to flee their homes. Data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection showed that only 14 per cent of the Palisades Fire has been contained so far, while Eaton Fire is under 33 per cent containment.
...Read MoreMeanwhile, Hurst Fire, which spread across 799 acres, is almost contained (97 per cent).
A new blaze, 'Auto Fire' erupted in the Ventura County neighbourhood late on Monday and spread over 56 acres, with zero per cent of the fire under containment.
Firefighters braced for the dangerous Santa Ana winds, which picked up speed early on Tuesday. As per the National Weather Service's forecast, dry Santa Ana wind gusts of 45 to 70 miles per hour (72 to f112 kph) were forecast to continue through Wednesday.
California wildfires | Key points
- California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was launching a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild the ravaged city. “We already have a team looking at reimagining L.A. 2.0,” he said.
- Santa Ana winds picked up speed early on Tuesday, with the possibility of gusts hitting 75 mph (120 kph), and are expected to persist through Wednesday.
- Just under 100,000 residents continue to remain under evacuation orders, which is half the number from last week. Meanwhile, another 1,66,000 residents have been warned of potential evacuation.
- The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also warned that it could deliberately cut power for safety purposes in the coming days as wind speeds picked up, posing serious risk for new fires in the region.
- A new blaze ‘Auto Fire’ erupted in Ventura County late on Monday. The fire has so far spread across 56 acres of land, CAL Fire data showed.
California fire live updates: Elon Musk calls CA Gov Newsom a ‘subtard’
California fire live updates: Art galleries at Getty Centre are safe, says Trust
California fire live updates: Katherine Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, said the art galleries are “safe and protected” and are being closely monitored.
The expanded evacuation area covers some of Los Angeles’ most important cultural institutions, including the Getty Center, an architectural landmark with a world-class art collection. The historic cultural centre has a fire-resistant design that may be put to the test.
California fire live updates: Governor Newsom updates on extent of fires contained
Eaton Fire - 15% of 14,117 acres contained
Palisades Fire - 11% of 23,654 acres contained
Hurst Fire - 76% of 799 acres contained
Kenneth Fire - 90% of 1,052 acres contained
Lidia Fire - 100% of 395 acres contained
California fire live updates: Engineer and mixer Bob Clearmountain shares ravaged pictures of his mixing studio
California fire live updates: Celebrity homes near Pacific coast under threat
California fire live updates: A fierce battle against the flames was underway in Mandeville Canyon, home to Arnold Schwarzenegger and other celebrities not far from the Pacific coast, where swooping helicopters dumped water as the blaze charged downhill. Firefighters on the ground used hoses in an attempt to beat back leaping flames as thick smoke blanketed the chaparral-covered hillside. (AP)
California fire live updates: ‘It gets worse again’, says LA resident
California fire live updates: The Palisades Fire continued to grow on Saturday, pushing eastwards.
"We're a nervous wreck," Sarah Cohen, a resident, told the Los Angeles Times of the threat to her Tarzana home.
"Every time they drop water, it gets better. But then it gets worse again."
Footage from the Mandeville Canyon area showed one home consumed, with a wall of flame licking up a hillside to menace others.
California fire live updates: Death toll rises to 16, says Los Angeles County
The number of people confirmed dead in fires that raced through Los Angeles rose to 16 on Saturday, authorities said.
The County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner published a list of fatalities without giving details of any identities. Five of the dead were found in the Palisades Fire zone, and 11 in the Eaton Fire zone, the document said. (AFP)
California fire live updates: States pitch in with resources to help CA
California fire live updates: California Fire Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler said on Saturday that states, including Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Montana, have contributed resources to fight the California wildfires.
California fire live updates: New evacuation orders issued in ultra-affluent Southern California neighbourhoods
California fire live updates: New evacuation orders were issued in the ultra-affluent Southern California neighbourhoods of Brentwood and Bel Air as the threat of more dry winds raised risks after a brief respite.
The expanded evacuation area covers some of Los Angeles’ most important cultural institutions, including the Getty Center, an architectural landmark with a world-class art collection.
The University of California's Los Angeles campus is on “high alert” and has been advised to prepare for evacuation.
New areas of Bel Air east of the 405 freeway are now also on evacuation warning.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said the flames brought “another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak.”
California fire live updates: Santa Ana winds expected to worsen
California fire live updates: According to the US Storm Prediction Center, dry winds will raise the risk of critical fire weather conditions across Southern California late Saturday and likely persist through the first half of the coming week, leaving millions in peril.
California fire live updates: At least 13 killed in six simultaneous wildfires
Six simultaneous blazes across Los Angeles County have killed at least 13 people so far, and as many are reported missing.
The death toll is expected to rise when firefighters can get through ravaged structures and look for victims.
California fire live updates: Governor updates on amount of resources deployed
“California is deploying resources from across the state, the nation, and neighbouring countries to battle the Los Angeles fires,” said Governor Newsom in a post on X.
“14,000+ Personnel, 1,680 @TheCalGuard Members, 1,668 Fire Engines, Water Tenders, & Dozers, 71 Helicopters,” he added.
California fire live updates: Los Angeles residents asked to stay indoors to avoid toxic smoke
Los Angeles Department of Public Health on Saturday to stay indoors because of dangerous wildfire smoke wreathing the area. Monster blazes are pumping toxic clouds, a mix of small particles, gasses and water vapours into the air, blanketing a vast region with choking fumes.
“It's those small particles that get into our noses and throats and cause those sore throats and headaches,” said Anish Mahajan from the department.
"Everyone in the areas where there's visible smoke or the smell of smoke, and even where you don't see that, we know that the air quality is poor, so you should limit outdoor exposure as much as possible." (AP)
