16 or more individuals have lost their lives as Los Angeles grapples with several fires that are charring large areas of the city. Firefighters are making some progress but face challenges due to strong winds while trying to control the Palisades and Easton fires, causing anxiety among Angelenos since Santa Ana winds are forecasted to grow stronger during the night.
16 individuals have lost their lives due to fires over the past five days. Specifically, 5 deaths were linked to the Palisades Fire, which ignited on Tuesday and quickly forced residents to evacuate. The remaining 11 fatalities occurred as a result of the Eaton Fire, according to the coroner’s office statement issued on Saturday evening. Additionally, the number of missing persons is increasing steadily across the city, as reported by the county sheriff.
As of Sunday morning, firefighting teams had successfully controlled 11% of the Palisades fire and 27% of the Eaton fire. Fortunately, both the Kenneth Fire (spread over 1,052 acres near the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties) and the Hurst fire (which consumed 779 acres in the Sylmar region) have been completely contained, as reported by CAL FIRE.
On Saturdays, as I huddle around my gaming console, a chilling message flashes across the screen: “In L.A. County, over 150,000 of us are under evacuation orders.” I pause the game, staring at the words, and my heart races as I realize more than 700 of my fellow gamers have sought safety in nine shelters. It’s a grim reminder that even in our digital world, we’re all part of something bigger.
As a fan of LA’s rich history and landmarks, I’m relieved to know that even as fires spread across the city, iconic spots like the J. Paul Getty Museum and UCLA’s very own campus are holding strong. According to CAL FIRE Operations Chief Christian Litz on Saturday, their primary concern lies with the Palisades Fire, which is burning not too far from the state college campus.
“We need to be aggressive out there,” Litz said.
The response to the catastrophic incident in the city involves 1,354 fire trucks, 84 aircraft, and over 14,000 personnel. On Saturday, helicopters were spotted dropping water on the fire as it spread through Mandeville Canyon.
As per the National Weather Service’s forecast, powerful Santa Ana winds are due to resurface, potentially escalating the nationwide wildfires into fierce blazes. Overnight wind speeds could peak at 70 mph, causing the fire-fighting efforts to stretch deep into the upcoming week.
The newly elected President Trump has been extended an invitation by California Governor Gavin Newsom to tour the destruction in Los Angeles. Governor Newsom, who has often been critical of President Trump since his political debut, made this invitation during a recent interview on “Meet the Press.” Although he welcomed Trump with open arms, Newsom criticized the President for disseminating misinformation about the fires and the state’s response. In addition, Kathryn Barge, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, has sent a letter to President Trump inviting him to visit so that he can witness the urgent need, but also the resilience, hope, and determination shown by the affected residents.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reportedly had a positive conversation with Trump’s transition team, referring to it as a “cordial call”. She expressed her belief that President-elect Trump may come to LA to survey the damage caused by recent events. Trump has publicly criticized the city and state for what he perceives as their ineptitude.
Councilwoman Bass is receiving backlash due to reducing the fire department’s budget by 2%. In June, she approved a budget amounting to almost $13 billion that also involved a reduction of $17 million in the LAFD’s 2025 budget. Bass has argued that these cuts did not affect the department’s capacity to fight fires.
Bass emphasized that once we’ve ensured safety for all and rescued both lives and properties, a thorough examination will be conducted to identify what strategies succeeded and which ones fell short. This evaluation aims to rectify any issues or hold responsible parties accountable, should it be necessary. For now, however, our primary concern lies with the well-being of people and their homes.
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2025-01-12 22:55