LA Wildfires: A Catastrophic 24 Hours – Over 130,000 People Without Power, 2 Dead, and Thousands Forced to Flee as Fires Engulf the City

10:45 a.m. -Live in Hollywood, CA

The city of angels has turned into a city of flames. The devastating wildfires that erupted in Los Angeles have left thousands of residents fleeing for their lives, and firefighters battling to contain the inferno. But what triggered this catastrophe?

The National Weather Service had warned of extreme fire risk amid a “life-threatening and destructive” windstorm, but nothing could have prepared the city for the sheer scale of destruction. Hurricane-force winds gusting up to 90 mph and bone-dry conditions created a perfect storm for disaster.

As of Wednesday, multiple fires were raging across the LA area, including the Eaton Fire, which had grown to over 2,000 acres and forced evacuations in urban areas. The Palisades Fire, which had spread to nearly 3,000 acres, threatened heavily populated areas like Santa Monica, Brentwood, and Malibu.

The extreme behavior of the fires has made control nearly impossible, with videos showing a firestorm of embers carried by powerful winds. The Weather Service described the situation as “extremely critical,” with high fire danger expected to last through at least Thursday.

But what’s behind this unprecedented disaster? Climate scientist Alex Hall from UCLA points to the unusual lack of rainfall in the region. “Typically, we have our first rains in November… and it’s enough to quench the thirst of the plants that have been dormant for much of the summer.” Without this rainfall, the fire season has been extended, making the region vulnerable to massive wildfires.

As the city struggles to come to terms with the devastation, our editor reflects on the unprecedented nature of the disaster:

“I have lived in LA for many years and have never seen anything like this before. The air is thick with smoke. The winds are crazy. So many beautiful places have been demolished to the ground. All you hear are firetrucks mixed with the sound of heavy wind. It’s heartbreaking to see the city I love suffering like this.”

Click here to see the map of the 4 fires.

Here is a timeline of the events:

• Tuesday, January 7:
• Multiple wildfires break out in the Los Angeles area, including the Eaton Fire, Palisades Fire, and Hurst Fire.
• Strong winds gusting up to 90 mph spread the fires rapidly.
• Evacuation orders are issued for several areas.
• Tuesday evening, January 7:
• Over 300,000 customers lose power due to the wildfires and preventative power shutoffs.
• Two people are confirmed dead.
• Wednesday, January 8:
• The fires continue to spread, with the Palisades Fire growing to nearly 3,000 acres.
• Firefighters struggle to contain the blazes due to extreme weather conditions.
• Over 130,000 people remain without power.

Sources:

• National Weather Service
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
• The Washington Post
• Reuters
• ALERTCalifornia/UC San Diego

mbtrama, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons