Firefighters are battling massive wildfires in Southern California that had burned thousands of acres and prompted mandatory evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents by Wednesday morning.
The Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire and the Hurst Fire raged through the Los Angeles area starting Tuesday. Fanned by Santa Ana winds, the fires grew overnight, destroying homes, commercial buildings and local landmarks.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Brent Pascua described the scene as “apocalyptic.” Abandoned cars were set on fire along the road after residents abandoned their vehicles to flee the Palisades Fire on foot, NBC Los Angeles reported Tuesday.
Where do the fires take place?
The fires broke out in multiple locations in the Los Angeles area. LA County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said in a briefing Wednesday morning that the raging wildfire in the affluent Pacific Palisades area near the coast had burned “over 5,000 acres.” To the east, the Eaton Fire, which ignited Tuesday evening, doubled in size overnight and has burned more than 2,200 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). The Hurst Fire in the north has destroyed about 500 hectares.
The National Weather Service warned overnight that the situation was “extremely dangerous” and warned residents to “leave immediately if requested to do so by local emergency services.”
According to Cal Fire, all three fires were 0% contained as of Wednesday morning. Marrone said two people have died in the Eaton Fire so far.
Who responds to the fires?
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Tuesday evening. More than 1,400 firefighters have been sent to Southern California to battle the blazes, as well as emergency officials and first responders, he said.
Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for at least 80,000 people, NBC News reported. A number of shelters have been set up in the Los Angeles area for those fleeing the fires.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved funds to support areas affected by the fires and to help the state reimburse firefighting costs.
President Joe Biden said his administration is in contact with state and local officials about the rapidly evolving situation.
Why are the fires burning at the same time?
Southern California is no stranger to destructive wildfires, and a deadly combination of dry conditions and strong winds this week contributed to the fires.
The fires have grown rapidly due to Santa Ana winds, with gusts of more than 80 miles per hour in some parts of the LA area, according to The Weather Channel.
Will the situation worsen?
Most likely. The NWS has said the most extreme conditions are expected Wednesday morning.
“Winds should gradually weaken throughout the day, but critical fire conditions are expected to persist through Thursday,” the agency said.
Early Wednesday, two more fires broke out in Southern California: the Woodley Fire in the Sepulveda Basin, which burned about 75 acres, and the Tyler Fire in Coachella, which has burned 28 acres and is 50% contained.
This is a development story. Check back for more details.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
