Palisades fire live: 2 dead and over 1,000 buildings destroyed as crews struggle with spreading wildfires
Signifcant injuries are reported as the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst and other fires rage over more than 23,000 acres in southern California, leaving schools closed and nearly 400,00 without power
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Your support makes all the difference.Los Angeles officials pleaded with residents to heed evacuation orders Wednesday as strong winds continued to fan the flames of the deadly and destructive wildfires around the county.
Two fatalities were reported in the Eaton Fire, which had spread over more than 10,000 acres and was producing unhealthy to hazardous air quality, according to forecasters.
Wildfires had also resulted in significant injuries, although it was not immediately clear how many people had been hurt. A 25-year-old female firefighter was among them, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott.
The wildfires have resulted in the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents, including more than 30,000 residents in Pacific Palisades. Some residents included celebrities, such as actors James Woods and Cary Elwes.
Dangerous wind conditions were not expected to let up until the end of the week. California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency, and the state’s National Guard was working to aid firefighters.
“This is not a normal Red Flag,” Kevin McGowan, the Director of the L.A. County Office of Emergency Management, said.
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NHL postpones the Los Angeles Kings’ home game
The NHL has postponed the Los Angeles Kings’ game against the Calgary Flames. The hockey teams were set to play at the Kings’ downtown arena on Thursday night.
“Our hearts are with our entire Los Angeles community,” the Kings said in a statement.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Preliminary AccuWeather estimate of damage and loss from California wildfires is more than $50 billion
Media forecasting company AccuWether said Wednesday that its preliminary estimate of the total damage and economic loss from the wildfires currently burning in Southern California ranges from $52 to $57 billion.
“This is already one of the worst wildfires in California history. Should a large number of additional structures be burned in the coming days, it may become the worst wildfire in modern California history based on the number of structures burned and economic loss,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said.
AccuWeather noted that the estimate may change as fires continue to spread.
Pacific Palisades fire is now most destructive in Los Angeles city history
The Pacific Palisades Fire is now the most destructive in the City of Los Angeles’ history, according to statistics kept by the Wildfire Alliance.
An estimated 1,000 structures have been destroyed by the blaze.
The Sayre Fire, the last most destructive wildfire, occurred in November 2008. It destroyed 604 structures in the suburb of Sylmar.
With reporting from The Associated Press
Thursday is a no-burn day in the South Coast Air Quality Management District
Los Angeles and surrounding communities fill with smoke as wildfire threat continues to grow
The Palisades Fire has spread over more than 11,000 acres
The Palisades Fire has spread over 11,802 acres, according to data from Cal Fire.
Including acreage from other recent fires, including the new Olivas and Woodley Fires, 23,143 acres have been burned in the region over the last two days.
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