For over a week, destructive fires have raged throughout Southern California, ravaging the Los Angeles area and forcing tens of thousands of Californians out of their homes. Quickly becoming one of the most destructive series of fires Los Angeles has seen, these fires have destroyed neighborhoods and killed at least 25 people. Though the ultimate cause of the blazes have not yet been identified, investigators have noted hurricane-force winds and drought conditions as catalysts for their relentless growth.
First reported on Tuesday, January 7th, the Palisades Fire along the Pacific Coast was fueled by the force of the Santa Ana winds and grew to almost 3,000 acres in the next 24 hours. The suspected area of its origin is a popular site in western Los Angeles for hiking. As of January 15th, firefighters have only been able to partly contain this fire, which has consumed an area of land nearly the size of Miami.
The next largest fire is the Eaton fire to the east in the San Gabriel Mountains. It has scorched more than 14,000 acres so far and burned the majority of the Altadena and Pasadena area, resulting in the most casualties of all three fires. Since its inception, there have been a multitude of lawsuits that claim the fire was started by utility equipment owned by the largest power provider in the area, Southern California Edison.
Completing the triangle, the Hurst Fire has burned about 800 acres in the San Fernando Valley and its cause has not yet been identified by investigators. As of January 15th, firefighters were close to fully containing it as it is now 97 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
A number of smaller blazes have also been identified and contained, such as the Kenneth Fire which broke out on Thursday and the Sunset Fire which ignited in the Hollywood Hills.
The estimated damage caused by the fires puts both the Palisades and Eaton fires among the top five most destructive in California history. The wide-raging destruction includes the burning of about 12,000 structures— homes, garages, and businesses. Some of the most affluent areas and landmarks of Los Angeles have suffered from the Palisades Fire. The National Guard and law enforcement have enforced curfews and locked down evacuated neighborhoods until it is safe to return. Los Angeles residents have been encouraged to wear masks as protection from the air quality, diminished by smoke and ash as byproducts of the fires.
Providing some relief, the National Weather service has said that wind speeds are forecast to drop this week and remain low, which allows the firefighters to continue their attempt at containing the fires. Even so, it could take weeks or longer for the Palisades and Eaton fires to be fully contained.
