Nathan Frandino and Jackie Luna
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Firefighters made slow progress in their battle to contain an inferno that burned wide swathes of Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades neighborhood to the ground, but spreading flames and strong winds continued to threaten communities in the populous San Fernando Valley on Sunday.
Airplanes were dropping water and fire retardants on steep hillsides to stop the Palisades fire from spreading eastward, and KTLA television reported that ground crews were able to save a number of homes, although others were lost.
“LA County has had another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
At least 14 people died in six simultaneous fires that engulfed the second largest city in the US from Tuesday until Sunday morning. It is estimated that at least 16 people are missing.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he expects the death toll to rise. “I have search and rescue teams. We have cadaver dogs and there will probably be a lot more,” he told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Newsom said the fires are likely to be the worst natural disaster in US history “just in terms of the costs associated with it”.
Active-duty military personnel are ready to support firefighting efforts, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a series of television interviews Sunday, adding that the agency urged residents to begin applying for disaster assistance.
“We have the resources to support this response, to support this recovery,” she told ABC’s “This Week.”
Firefighters said the fires damaged or destroyed 12,000 structures. The flames turned entire neighborhoods into smoldering ruins, destroying the homes of the rich and famous and ordinary people and leaving an apocalyptic landscape.
Over the past 24 hours, the Palisades fire has spread to an additional 1,000 acres (400 hectares), engulfing multiple homes, officials said.
Cal Fire official Todd Hopkins said that while 11% of the Palisades fire is now contained, more than 22,000 acres have burned.
Hopkins said at a news conference that the fire has spread into Mandeville Canyon and is threatening to jump into Brentwood, an upscale neighborhood where many celebrities live, and the San Fernando Valley. He also made a slight turn onto Highway 405 in a north-south direction.
GRANDPA ANA VIETRA
Although the Santa Ana winds that fueled the fire died down a bit over the weekend, the National Weather Service warned that gusts of up to 70 mph (110 km/h) could return early next week. Local officials said they were expecting the strongest winds on Tuesday.
Red flag warnings remain in effect for LA and Ventura counties through Wednesday, the NWS said.
“These winds, combined with dry air and dry vegetation, will keep fire danger in the area,” it said. Conditions are expected to ease by Thursday.
Some residents were allowed to return to the sites of their destroyed homes on Saturday to see what they could salvage. Teams from the LA County Sheriff’s Office worked to search the rubble with dogs for human remains.
Evacuation orders across the Los Angeles area now cover 153,000 residents. Another 166,000 residents were warned they may have to evacuate, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
FEDERAL AID
President Joe Biden spoke to officials by phone to get an update on their efforts, and aides briefed him on federal resources being sent.
His major disaster declaration unlocked federal aid for those affected by the wildfires, clearing the way for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide support.
“FEMA is now starting to support, with a major disaster declaration, individuals who have been affected,” Criswell said on Fox News Sunday, urging people to register for assistance through the DisasterAssistance.gov website.
Assistance can range from funding for home repairs to money to replace lost food or medicine, FEMA spokesman Michael Hart said, adding that assistance can be provided within days.
Newsom also signed an executive order to reduce state government red tape needed to rebuild lost homes and businesses.
However, President-elect Donald Trump has criticized local and state officials who he believes have mishandled the situation.
“Fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent citizens have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of stately homes are gone, and many more will soon be lost. Death is everywhere…they just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them ?” he said on his Truth social media feed.
Los Angeles Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Kathryn Barger told reporters she had invited Trump — who takes office Jan. 20 — to visit the district to see the devastation firsthand.
‘WEEKS OF WORK’
In Altadena, official Don Fregulia said he was managing Eaton (NYSE:) The fire and its impact will be a “major, Herculean task” that he said will take “many weeks of work.”
The Cal Fire website reported the Eaton fire was 27% contained, up from 15% on Saturday, after burning 14,117 acres.
The two major fires combined consumed more than 36,000 hectares (14,500 acres), or 56 square miles (145 square kilometers) – 2-1/2 times the area of Manhattan – in one of the worst disasters in Los Angeles history.
Officials declared a public health emergency due to thick, toxic smoke and poor air quality, as the fires brought up traces of metal, plastic and other synthetic materials.
Progress has been reported in restoring power to Los Angeles neighborhoods. Southern California Edison CEO Steven Powell said about 50,000 customers were now without power, down from more than half a million a day earlier.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated damage and economic loss at $135 billion to $150 billion, heralding a sharp increase in homeowners insurance costs.
In his weekly address to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said: “I am close to the people of Los Angeles… where devastating fires have broken out in recent days. I am praying for all of you.”
