California – Southern California is experiencing its most harmful and deadly winter fires in over four decades.
The deadly fires began on Tuesday.
Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, described the impact of the fires and winds affecting the area as “devastating.”
The Palisades fire is the biggest fire in the region, which could become the most devastating fire in state history.
It was followed by the Eaton fire that struck the northern parts of Los Angeles, which has not yet been contained.
However, authorities said the Hurst fire, located just north of San Fernando, had been contained.
The fires have overtaken parts of Los Angeles, which has led to at least five deaths, inflamed buildings, and the urgency for more than 130 000 people to evacuate.
Reports said some of Hollywood’s biggest stars have lost their homes in the ferocious wildfires that have razed large swathes of southern Los Angeles.
Among the celebrities who have lost their homes are Leighton Meester, Adam Brody and Paris Hilton.
Paris Hilton said on X: “Heartbroken beyond words Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience. This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps”.
CalFire has confirmed that the fire has destroyed hundreds of structures thus far, and they are very much overstretched with resources as firefighters are yet to contain the situation.
However, states are providing help to California; LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said: “The firefighting units from Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona are responding to the Southern California wildfires, Los Angeles.”
Brian Rice, president of the statewide California Professional Firefighters, said, If you do not have to be in that area and breathe that environment in, don’t. It’s dangerous.”
According to PowerOutage.us, more than 1.5 million homes are without power, with nearly a million of them based in Los Angeles County.
Meanwhile, the new Sunset Fire, which broke out on Wednesday evening, is threatening the Hollywood Hills area, which is also at zero percent containment.
On Wednesday evening, the National Weather Service said that north to northeast wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph were expected on Thursday.
The Los Angeles Times has described the city of Los Angeles as having faced “a two-day nightmare” and said people need to be prepared for more days of fire weather.
The US National Weather Service has issued a forecast today saying there remains “a critical risk of fire weather over parts of southern California on Thursday.”
