- 4 separate wildfires have started in the Los Angeles County area since Tuesday morning.
- The Palisades fire has destroyed over 1,000 residential and commercial structures and 2 people have died in the Eaton fire.
- Approximately 70,000 people have been asked to evacuate because of the wildfires.
As much of the country recovers from and prepares for winter storms, Southern California is facing an entirely different problem as multiple wildfires encroach on the Los Angeles area.
Since Tuesday morning, four different fires have started in the Los Angeles County area.
According to CBS, California Gov. Gavin Newson has declared a state of emergency across the state due to the fires, fed by strong seasonal winds.
Now the federal government is lending support, and other Western states including Utah appear ready to help out.
How big are the wildfires?
The first fire to start was the Palisades fire, which started at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday near the Pacific Palisades community. The fire has burned over 5,000 acres, according to The Los Angeles Times.
The Eaton fire started around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and has covered more than 1,000 acres in Altadena and Pasadena.
Starting at 10:30 p.m., the Hurst fire, located around Sylmar, began and has now burned more than 500 acres, according to USA Today.
A fourth fire, the Woodley fire, started early Wednesday morning just north of the Palisade fire, according to CBS.
What damages have the wildfires caused?
According to The LA Times, the Eaton fire has consumed many homes in Altadena and Pasadena, and the Palisades fire has destroyed over 1,000 structures including homes and businesses. Most of the damage from the fire occurred in the Pacific Palisades area.
The Los Angeles County fire chief reported Wednesday morning that two people had died in the Eaton fire, and several people have been injured in all of the fires, per The LA Times.
For the Palisades fire alone, over 30,000 residents were evacuated from the Pacific Palisades community. In total between the four fires, at least 70,000 people have been ordered to evacuate.
Users on social media have been sharing videos and photos of the fires and the damage they has caused. One user on X shared video showing the damage that occurred in the Pacific Palisades area.
What caused the fires?
The causes of all the fires are currently unknown and are being investigated, per USA Today.
Strong winds in the Los Angeles county area have fueled the fires contributing greatly to the rapid spread of the flames.
Other factors such as low humidity and dry fuels have also helped strengthen the fires, according to USA Today.
The National Weather Service issued its highest alert for extreme fire conditions in a major part of Los Angeles County before the fires even started.
An early warning on Monday predicted wind gusts reaching 100 mph throughout the week could prompt “extreme fire behavior,” per USA Today.
There are a variety of different ways that wildfires typically start.
“A wildfire, an uncontrolled blaze that occurs on open land with vegetation, can be ignited by natural or artificial causes,” per USA Today.
The most common cause of wildfires is lightning, and in areas with roads near wildlife it is common for vehicles to unknowingly start a fire.
Another way fires can start is when strong winds move power lines potentially generating sparks which can land on dry fuel for a flame, per USA Today.
A prevalent human cause of wildfires is unextinguished campfires.
What is the outlook going forward?
The strong winds in the area will continue to slowly decrease throughout Wednesday. But, they will still be at dangerous levels and can still contribute to extreme fire conditions, according to The New York Times.
Winds are also expected to shift, potentially pushing the Palisades fire west to an area where there are more structures.
The danger will not be over after Wednesday. It is possible that another wind event could come into Santa Ana on Friday, which could also help to keep the fires going, per The New York Times.
It is expected that weather conditions will improve over the weekend, but there is a high likelihood of another wind event next week as well.
Aid being sent from the Pentagon
According to The Hill, the Pentagon deputy press secretary confirmed that the Defense Department is sending 10 Navy helicopters to California with water buckets.
The Pentagon also is working with the California National Guard to add two Modular Airborne FireFighting Systems to the firefight. The systems quickly discharge retardant to battle fires and the Nevada National Guard is preparing two more to send to California.
According to Fox 10, the federal government has been sending other resources to help contain the fires.
There are five U.S. Forest Service large air tankers being deployed that are already in Southern California, and a sixth is en route to the area.
The U.S. Forest Service also has dozens of fire engines that are ready to be deployed as needed.
On Wednesday, FEMA approved fire management assistance grants that will reimburse the state for the costs of the firefight, per Fox 10.
Unified Fire officials confirmed Wednesday that the Utah fire agency has received requests for help from California. Unified Fire Authority said it will work to send personnel to aid in the firefight.