LA wildfires devour thousands of homes; death toll rises to 10

LOS ANGELES – Firefighters reported some progress fighting the wildfires that have charred hillsides, homes and streets in Los Angeles County, but the strong winds that fanned the flames picked up again on Jan 10, worsening conditions.

The fires, engulfing iconic Los Angeles neighbourhoods and tearing through the Hollywood Hills, have so far killed 10 people and destroyed nearly 10,000 structures.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said late on Jan 9 that he expected the death toll to climb.

“It looks like an atomic bomb dropped in these areas. I don’t expect good news, and we’re not looking forward to those numbers,” he said.

Some Pacific Palisades residents ventured back to areas where a wall of fire had already swept through. Brick chimneys loomed over charred waste and burnt-out vehicles.

“We are alive. That’s all that matters,” private security guard Bilal Tukhi said while standing watch outside his employer’s damaged home, saying the scene reminded him of his native, war-torn Afghanistan.

As at early Jan 10, five fires were still burning.

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.

They have consumed more than 13,750ha and turned entire neighbourhoods to ash.

The Palisades fire is now 6 per cent controlled, while the Eaton fire was still blazing out of control, according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The skies buzzed with aircraft dropping water and fire retardant on the flaming hills.

Kenneth fire partially controlled

One rapidly growing blaze that broke out on Jan 9 near Calabasas, one of the wealthiest cities in the US and home to numerous celebrities and gated communities, was 35 per cent under control early on Jan 10, fire officials said.

The so-called Kenneth fire had expanded to 388ha in a matter of hours. The Hurst fire was 37 per cent contained, while the Lidia fire, the smallest of the five, was 75 per cent contained.

Winds dropped on Jan 9 from the gusts of up to 160kmh seen earlier in the week, allowing crucial support from the air for firefighters on the ground. But officials said winds intensified again overnight, and red-flag conditions were expected until the afternoon of Jan 10.

President Joe Biden, who declared a major disaster on Jan 7, promised on Jan 9 that the federal government would reimburse 100 per cent of the recovery costs for the next 180 days to pay for debris and hazard material removal, temporary shelters and first responder salaries.

“I told the governor, local officials, spare no expense to do what they need to do and contain these fires,” he said after meeting senior advisers at the White House.

Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at up to US$150 billion (S$206 billion), portending an arduous recovery and soaring home owner insurance costs.

The homes of movie stars and celebrities were among those consumed by flames.

Reality television star Paris Hilton shared video of her charred beachfront home in Malibu after watching it burn down on live TV. Images showed piles of charred debris and twisted metal, with waves lapping the beach in the background.

Officials said the Eaton fire had damaged or destroyed 4,000 to 5,000 structures, while the Palisades fire destroyed or damaged another 5,300 structures.

In Altadena, a racially and economically diverse community nearby, many residents told Reuters they were concerned that government resources would be channelled towards wealthier areas, and they worried that insurance companies might short-change less affluent households that lacked the means to contest fire claims.

“They’re not going to give you the value of your house... If they do, you really have to fight for it,” said Ms Kay Young, 63.

She tearfully looked over smoking rubble, the remnants of a home that she said had been in her family for generations.

Hollywood fire contained

Firefighting crews managed to fully control the Sunset fire in the Hollywood Hills, after flames raged atop the ridge overlooking Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame on the night of Jan 8.

Officials said they were working to establish curfews for areas affected by mandatory evacuation orders to prevent looting.

The LA County Sheriff’s Department said it had requested the support of the California National Guard to help local law enforcement with traffic control and to protect critical infrastructure.

It said 20 people had been arrested for looting. REUTERS