Los Angeles wildfires devour more residences even as fierce winds start to ease.
Two massive wildfires menacing Los Angeles from the east and west were still burning uncontained on Thursday, but a brief respite from the fierce winds that have fanned the flames for two days allowed crews to slow their explosive spread.
The Palisades Fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on the city’s western flank and the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, consuming nearly 31,000 acres (12,500 hectares) – or some 48 square miles (125 sq km) – turning entire neighborhoods to ash.
At least five individuals have lost their lives, thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed, and nearly 180,000 people have been forced to evacuate, with an additional 200,000 under evacuation warnings, according to officials.
The death toll is expected to increase, Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna announced at a press conference. He noted that the Eaton Fire had damaged or destroyed between 4,000 and 5,000 structures. Additionally, officials reported that the Palisades Fire destroyed another 5,300 structures, according to the Los Angeles Times.
