Los Angeles wildfires: Containment efforts and ongoing danger
Firefighters have partially brought two large wildfires in Los Angeles under control. The Palisades and Eaton fires were partially extinguished with support from neighboring states, the federal government, and Canada.
Firefighters in Los Angeles have recorded initial successes in combating the blaze. The Palisades fire has been 8% contained, and the Eaton fire 3% contained.
Hundreds of firefighters are involved in the operation, battling the flames both from the ground and the air.
California received assistance from seven neighboring states, the federal government, and Canada. The support included additional air teams and ground crews.
“Thanks to the increased number of resources assigned, the region is in a much better posture than we were earlier this week,” said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.
Los Angeles fights the fire. At least 11 people have died
The fires have devastated some districts of Los Angeles County, resulting in the death of at least 11 people and the destruction of 10,000 buildings.
About 153,000 people have been evacuated, and another 166,800 have received evacuation warnings. A curfew has been imposed in the evacuation zones.
Forecasts for Los Angeles. High risk of fires after the weekend
The National Weather Service predicts an improvement in conditions in the Los Angeles area over the weekend. Winds are expected to decrease, which will bring relief to firefighters battling the fire.
However, forecasters predict that another red flag warning will be issued on Monday. This indicates a very high risk of fires, warning of extreme conditions conducive to the spread of fire, including high temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damages and economic losses at $135–150 billion. It announced problems with rebuilding and a sharp increase in insurance costs for homeowners.
