LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — At least two people have died, and more than 1,100 structures have been destroyed as wildfires rage unchecked across the Los Angeles area. Officials have ordered the evacuation of approximately 70,000 residents, with the fires driven by fierce winds and dry conditions.
The largest of three blazes, the Pacific Palisades wildfire, has scorched over 5,000 acres, ravaging one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the nation. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed more than 1,000 structures were lost and warned that unrelenting winds are complicating firefighting efforts.
The Eaton fire near Pasadena has burned over 2,000 acres, killing two people. A synagogue, a McDonald’s restaurant, and several homes have been destroyed. Nearly 100 residents of a Pasadena nursing home were evacuated, many in wheelchairs and on gurneys, CBS News reported.
In Sylmar, the Hurst fire has topped 500 acres, with officials reporting zero containment for all three fires.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, positioning personnel and equipment across Southern California. President Joe Biden has pledged federal support for the firefighting efforts.
About 188,000 homes and businesses are without power, and more than 100 schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District have been closed, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho confirmed.
Roads are clogged as evacuees scramble to escape the fire, which has forced crews to clear stranded vehicles. A Pacific Palisades resident said flames were “this close to the cars” as she escaped.
Fire officials are working nonstop, as aircraft drop water and bulldozers clear routes for escape. The National Weather Service says conditions will remain critical overnight, with low humidity and gusty winds that are expected to continue.
