California fire: Death toll rises to 10, officials say

A preliminary estimate of the financial toll from the Los Angeles wildfires places it among the costliest natural disasters in US history, and potentially the most expensive wildfire ever recorded, reports said. The fires are ravaging some of the priciest real estate in the country, where the median home value exceeds $2 million, according to a Bloomberg report.

According to AccuWeather Inc. data cited in the report, the damage and economic loss from the disaster are expected to range between $52 billion and $57 billion.

Fueled by hurricane-force dry winds - 'Santa Ana' -, the fires could spread further into these high-value neighborhoods, destroying more homes. For context, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 remains the most costly US natural disaster, with damages estimated at $200 billion, based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. In comparison, wildfires in California in 2018, including the Camp Fire, resulted in approximately $30 billion in losses.

The wildfires in California’s Los Angeles, that started two days back, have so far claimed five lives. The fires have erupted in multiple locations in the city and have all firefighters across the state working overtime to control it as conditions worsen.

Wildfires in California are not an uncommon phenomenon, the state has always been vulnerable to them due to dry weather conditions throughout summers along with winds. However, wildfires in the state have become much more frequent in recent years owing to man-made causes such as climate change. Read more

A handout satellite image taken and released by Planet Labs PBC on January 8, showed smoke from the Palisades Fire near Pacific Palisades, California.

People living in the heart of historic Hollywood were ordered to evacuate as a new fire erupted just a few hundred meters (yards) from Hollywood Boulevard on Wednesday (local time).

"Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW. The area is lawfully closed to public access," the Los Angeles Fire Department posted alongside a map that included sections of the storied movie district.

Wildfires threatened to engulf parts of Hollywood on Wednesday as a growing number of blazes raged across Los Angeles, forcing thousands out of their accommodations and claiming at least five lives.

New fires appeared to be spotting as embers were thrown up to 2.5 miles (four kilometers) including one that razed a large property late Wednesday in the densely populated Studio City area.

(via AFP)

Among the landmarks burnt down by the wildfires was the historic ranch house that belonged to Hollywood legend Will Rogers and the Topanga Ranch Motel, built by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1929, according to an Associated Press report.

The Reel Inn, an iconic Malibu seafood shack across the Pacific Coast Highway from Topanga Beach, a famous surf spot, has also been a victim to the fires. Restaurants had operated in that location since the 1940s; the Reel Inn — where surf boards dating back almost a century hung from the rafters — opened in 1986.

Visuals from Los Angeles surfacing on social media show devastating scenes at the city that houses the film and television industry of America.

Sharing one such video, a post on X was captioned: "This is by far the craziest video from the fire in Los Angeles. This guy is filming huge walls of fire surrounding a house they're in, and there's another person and a dog. I have no idea why they didn't evacuate or what happened to them. Let's hope they're okay."

Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX will provide free Starlink terminals to affected areas in Los Angeles tomorrow morning.

Musk said the above in response to a post on X that claimed that TV crews are using SpaceX's Starlink to broadcast their live fire coverage in Los Angeles.

"The only reason you're able to see us right now is because of Starlink. There's absolutely no cell service at all in this whole area," the post cited a reporter.

Among the ton of visuals of Los Angeles wildfires surfacing on social media, one showed an aircraft engaged in firefighting operation dropping water accurately to instantly douse the blaze at a portion of Hollywood Hills.

Response to the wildfires in Southern California, US President Joe Biden pledged federal support for relief and recovery efforts.

Biden also announced the approval of Governor Gavin Newsom's request for a major disaster declaration and assured that the federal government would provide necessary assistance to affected communities.

Sharing a post on X, Biden wrote, "We're prepared to do anything and everything, as long as it takes, to contain the Southern California fires and help reconstruct. But we know it'll be a hell of a long way. The federal government is here to stay as long as you need us."

American actor and comedian Billy Crystal and his wife have lost their longtime home of 45 years in fire at Palisades, the upscale neighbourhood that houses several celebrity residences.

In a statement, cited in a news agency Associated Press report, the couple confirmed their home was among the hundreds burned in fires in and around Los Angeles.

“Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this,” the Crystals wrote in the statement.

Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton are among the stars who have lost their houses in the blazes. Many others are among the tens of thousands who have evacuated due to the flames, with some still awaiting word on the status of their residences.

Outgoing US President has Biden cancelled final foreign trip of presidency to Italy to monitor response to the wildfires in California, reported news agency Associated Press.

Many of the raging fires started Tuesday, fueled by strong ‘Santa Ana’ winds gusting over 70 mph (112 kph) in some areas. The winds continued on Wednesday, making it too risky for aircraft to fight the fires from the air, delaying efforts. Aerial firefighting resumed Wednesday morning.

Plush Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, Pasadena and Altadena are among the areas majorly affected by the wildfires, some of which house celebrity residences.

The wildfires in the upscale Pacific Palisades is the most destructive in LA history, official estimates of damages cited in reports suggest. An estimated 1,000 structures have been destroyed in the hilly coastal neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, making it the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, according to an Associated Press report.

The wreckage surpassed that of the Sayre Fire of November 2008, which destroyed 604 structures in Sylmar, the northernmost suburb of the city, according to statistics kept by the Wildfire Alliance, a partnership between the city’s fire department and MySafe:LA.

Here’s a few facts and figures shared by officials at a media update about the wildfires in Los Angeles:

1. The Eaton fire has consumed over 16.5 square miles (42.7 square kilometers) and is so far uncontained.

2. Between 200 and 500 structures have been damaged or destroyed.

3. About 1,00,000 people have received notices to evacuate.

4. At least five school campuses in Altadena have suffered substantial fire damage.

5. Embers carried by winds in the 70-mph range started dozens of fires Tuesday night, igniting block after block as they flew through the air.

6. 750 firefighters are working to halt the blaze, with more on the way.

7. More than 250 pets have been taken in by the Pasadena Humane Society in the past 24 hours.

(Via AP)

Another fire broke out out in the Hollywood Hills, officials cited in an Associated Press report said. As officials provided media update about the fires around 5:50 pm, Los Angeles city Fire Chief Kristin Crowley announced that a new blaze had broken out in the Hollywood Hills near Runyon Canyon.

She said all available resources were responding and excused herself to attend to that blaze.

All Los Angeles Unified School District schools will be closed Thursday

All schools will be closed Thursday in the Los Angeles Unified School District because of the fires, Alberto Carvalho, district superintendent, said during a media briefing.

Two elementary schools in the district have been destroyed by fire, he said.

(via AP)

United States's Los Angeles, the sprawling city of Southern California and the centre of the country's film and television industry or Hollywood, is battling massive wildfires that not only have several evacuated celebrities awaiting word on whether their homes survived the flames but have also killed at least five people and reduced many structures to rubble, levelling entire blocks. Read full story

Saluting the firefighters engaged in operations to douse the massive Los Angeles wildfires, President Joe Biden said in a post on X, “To the brave men and women who ran towards danger over the past 24 hours in Southern California, I want you to know your President, and the rest of the country, is with you.”

“You suited up and risked your lives to save the lives of your fellow Americans. We are indebted to you,” he said.

Film studios canceled two movie premieres due to the fire and windy weather, while the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park closed for the day due to the smoky and windy conditions, according to an Associated Press report. The J. Paul Getty Trust said two of its museums, the Getty Villa and Getty Center, would remain closed for the next few days.

Universal Studios also canceled shooting for numerous series, including “Hacks,” “Ted Lasso” and “Suits LA.”

The Walt Disney Co. closed its headquarters in Burbank, and canceled production on several series, including “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Doctor Odyssey.” ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” which tapes in Hollywood, was canceled for Wednesday and will instead air a repeat.

Several evacuated celebrities are awaiting a word on whether their residences survived the wildfires that have engulfed parts of Los Angeles, the sprawling city of Southern California city and the centre of country's film and television industry or Hollywood.

Several Hollywood celebrities have been affected by wildfires in Los Angeles and are awaiting a word on whether their residences survived the blazes or not after their evacuation. The Oscar nominations have been delayed two days to January 19 and the film academy has extended the voting window to accommodate members affected by the fires.

Death toll from wildfires in Los Angeles area has risen to 5, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, cited in an Associated Press report. The wildfires continued to spread on Wednesday, fueled by winds, with fire fighters reportedly battling to douse at least three major out-of-control blazes in which least five people have died and some of the most picturesque neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area have been ravaged.

The fires blanketed the city with a thick cloud of smoke and ash and destroyed homes across the metropolitan area, from the Pacific Coast inland to Pasadena, home of the famed Rose Parade.

One of the fires, said to be most destructive in the modern history of the city of LA, reduced grocery stores and banks to rubble, leveling entire blocks, the news agency reported.

Three schools in Palisades have sustained “significant damage” as a result of the out-of-control wildfire in the area, according to the district.

The Palisades Fire has burned nearly 16,000 acres so far, according to California Fire.

The shortage of water was because the tanks used weren't refilling fast enough, officials clarified on Wednesday.

“Those tanks help with the pressure on the fire hydrants in the hills in the Palisades, and because we were pushing so much water in our (main supply line), and so much water was being used … we were not able to fill the tanks fast enough,” Janisse Quiñones, chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power told reporters.

“The consumption of water was faster than we can provide water in a (main) line,” the CEO added.

A brushfire jumped to 50 acres on Wednesday through the Soledad Canyon in a residential community near Santa Clarita, according to Watch Duty.

The City of Santa Monica posted a new evacuation order for the most northern portion of the city, which border the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, warning people to leave immediately.

“A new expanded evacuation ORDER has been issued for all areas north of Montana Avenue from the beach to 11th Street. Residents in this area must leave IMMEDIATELY and the area is closed to public access,” the city said in a post on X.