Over 6 million people in Southern California face wildfire threats as extreme winds are expected to worsen the situation
Los Angeles: More than 6 million folks in Southern California are in serious danger from wildfires. Weather officials are warning about strong winds that could make things worse.
The Palisades fire, the biggest one, is only 18% contained after burning for over a week. It has destroyed thousands of homes and sadly claimed lives. The Eaton fire, not far behind, is 35% contained and has burned over 14,000 acres. Firefighters are also battling two smaller fires in the area.
Authorities are calling this a “particularly dangerous situation,” which is pretty rare. This season has already seen three of these warnings, and with the ongoing drought, the return of hurricane-strength winds is a big concern.
As of Tuesday, about 88,000 people had to evacuate, and another 84,000 might need to leave if the fires spread. The death toll has risen to 25, and sadly, it could go up as crews try to reach the wreckage.
Los Angeles hasn’t seen significant rain since early May last year, which, combined with the winds, creates a perfect storm for wildfires. Meteorologist Ryan Kittell explained that the “particularly dangerous situation” warning is meant to highlight just how extreme things have gotten.
On Tuesday, the winds were calmer, giving firefighters a chance to make progress. But forecasts predict winds of 50 to 70 mph could hit parts of Los Angeles and Ventura County soon.
The economic losses from these fires are staggering, estimated between $250 billion to $270 billion, making it the most expensive fire disaster in U.S. history.
Fire Captain Erik Scott said these wildfires are the worst natural disaster he’s seen in his 20 years on the job. He’s never witnessed such extensive devastation.
On Tuesday, Southern California Edison cut power to over 58,000 customers in the area, with more outages expected as they prepare for the strong winds. The utility company is facing scrutiny after residents reported seeing a transmission tower on fire before the Eaton fire started.
They’ve stated they’re cooperating with investigations and have found no issues with their electrical circuits around the time the fire began.
