There are five wildfires burning simultaneously in Los Angeles County. The causes of the fires are still under investigation. The fires started on or after January 7, a remarkable—and devastating—reminder of how quickly things can change.
Quantifiers of damage will rise in the coming days, but as of Friday morning, 10 people are dead and 179,000 people are under evacuation orders. More than 10,000 structures are damaged or destroyed, and more than 35,000 acres have burned, according to CAL FIRE.
The Palisades Fire alone has burned nearly 20,000 acres between the stretch of Highway 1 between Malibu and Santa Monica, and north to Topanga. Devastating images and video of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood show frames or rubble where once stood multimillion dollar mansions of well-known actors and other celebrities. The Palisades Fire is encroaching on iconic architecture, including the Getty Villa and Eames House.
"It is safe to say that the Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles," said LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley to NBC4 in Los Angeles.
Santa Ana winds will make containing and extinguishing the fires even more difficult for fire fighters. The Palisades Fire is between 6%-8% contained. The Eaton Fire, the second largest fire with more than 13,000 acres burned along Altadena and the bottom edge of the Angeles National Forest, is 0% contained.
For those Angelenos who are in the process of or have evacuated, our thoughts and prayers are with you. The next several days, months and years are going to be difficult. Please let us know how we can help you by leaving a comment below.
For those who are not directly affected by the California wildfires, EHS Today is resharing expert advice on what preparations and precautions you can take to protect employees in the event of a wildfire or other natural disaster.
