The wildfires in Los Angeles have escalated, leading to five fatalities and forcing 70,000 residents to evacuate as the situation worsens
Right now, there are five major fires burning in the area. The Palisades and Eaton Fires are the biggest culprits, having wiped out more than 25,000 acres. These fires kicked off on Tuesday, fueled by those crazy Santa Ana winds that can hit over 70 mph.
Those winds made it super risky for planes to drop water on the flames, which really slowed down the firefighting efforts. Thankfully, they got back in the air on Wednesday morning.
It’s been pretty scary, with images showing elderly folks fleeing from what looks like an apocalypse. Governor Newsom said they’ve got 1,400 firefighters on the ground, and Oregon is sending help too, with 240 firefighters and 60 engines.
The Los Angeles Fire Department is calling in all off-duty firefighters to pitch in. The damage is estimated to be between $52 billion and $57 billion, which is just mind-blowing.
About 70,000 people have been told to evacuate, and that number keeps changing as new orders come in. By Wednesday afternoon, a lot of people, especially the elderly, were at the Pasadena evacuation center. The fire is creeping toward some wealthy neighborhoods like Calabasas and Santa Monica.
Even some Hollywood stars, like Mark Hamill and Mandy Moore, had to leave their homes. Power outages are hitting hard too, with around 1.5 million households in Southern California without electricity, and nearly a million of those are in Los Angeles County.
President Biden was in town and met with Governor Newsom to get the latest updates. He also chatted with Mayor Bass while flying back to D.C. He mentioned that recovery from these wildfires is going to take a while, and Newsom was really thankful for the support.
During a virtual briefing, a White House spokesperson said it was crucial for the President to show that the government is committed to helping with both firefighting and recovery efforts. They believe Biden’s visit made a difference in how they’re responding to the fires.
