Several fast-moving wildfires near Los Angeles grew out of control on Wednesday, destroying hundreds of buildings, scorching hillsides and killing at least two people, prompting officials to order about 70,000 people to evacuate their homes.
High winds hampered firefighting efforts and fueled the fire, which has been spreading unhindered and unchecked since it began on Tuesday.
The largest fire burned more than 5,000 acres in Pacific Palisades, a picturesque community in western Los Angeles County between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu. It is the hometown of many film, television and music stars. More than 1,000 structures have been destroyed, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a press conference on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
Another fire, the Eaton Fire, burned about 30 miles (50 kilometers) inland from Altadena near Pasadena and has grown to more than 2,000 acres. Two people were reported dead there, but officials said they had no further details.
The Hearst Fire, located in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley northwest of Los Angeles, has burned more than 500 acres. All three fires are “0% contained,” officials said.
Officials warned that Santa Ana winds are expected to persist throughout the day, with Los Angeles City Fire Chief Christine Crowley saying, “We are definitely not out of danger yet and strong winds will continue to sweep across the city and county today.” ”
Officials said high winds prevented aerial support for firefighting operations and put severe pressure on municipal water systems. Residents are urged to conserve water.
Tens of thousands were forced to flee
After the fire broke out on Tuesday, residents began to evacuate as the fire spread and roads became so congested that some people abandoned their cars to escape the fire. Emergency crews went door to door issuing evacuation orders.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday. President Joe Biden plans to visit the Santa Monica Fire Station on Wednesday to receive a briefing from fire officials, the White House said.
About 100 of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s 1,000 public schools are closed, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said at a news conference.
According to Reuters, evacuees who fled include Hollywood celebrities such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Mandy Moore and Mark Hamill.
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