- Wildfires are ravaging the Los Angeles area, spreading rapidly due to dry and windy conditions.
- The fires have burned through more than 39,000 acres. Officials report that at least 16 people have died.
- Analysts estimate damages caused by the fires may top $50 billion — breaking previous state records.
Across Los Angeles, a series of wildfires fanned by the powerful Santa Ana winds have been leveling homes in the area for nearly a week, leaving a path of record-breaking destruction in their wake.
The largest of the fires, ripping through the wealthy enclave of the Pacific Palisades, is just 11% contained as of early Sunday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). It is moving toward the densely populated neighborhood of Encino in the San Fernando Valley. About 30 miles northeast, the Eaton Fire, which is 15% contained, is threatening the city of Altadena.
Nearly 40,000 acres have burned in four separate blazes, and the LA County Medical Examiner has reported 16 deaths related to the fires so far.
At least 153,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate the area and another 166,000 have been warned to be ready to evacuate, Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said during a Saturday morning press conference.
“Critical fire weather conditions are predicted to continue through Wednesday,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during the Saturday morning conference. “Moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds will affect Los Angeles County today, tomorrow, and then again on Monday through Wednesday.”
The winds, combined with dry air and dry vegetation, will keep the fire threat in Los Angeles County high through at least the middle of next week, Marrone added.
A representative for the electric services company Southern California Edison said on Saturday afternoon that more than 50,000 residences were without power.
Local water districts have also issued numerous water advisories, warning residents not to drink or use the water, which may be contaminated with debris from the fire. Air pollution levels have also remained high in many parts of the city.
Amid the chaos, residents have also faced opportunistic looters burglarizing empty properties, inaccurate evacuation orders sent out in error through the county’s emergency alert system, and rapidly spreading misinformation online regarding evacuation zones and the causes of the fire.
Analysts from JPMorgan have estimated that the blazes tearing through the region may lead to about $50 billion in total economic losses — including over $20 billion in insured losses, Business Insider previously reported. If the estimates prove to be accurate, the damage caused by the current fires would be significantly more severe than the 2018 Camp Fires, which racked up $10 billion in insured losses.
The state has, in recent years, been subject to a mass exodus of major insurers, including State Farm. The company announced in 2023 that it would stop accepting new home insurance policies in California, citing risks from catastrophes.
Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades area north of Santa Monica has burned through over 23,000 acres and is 11% contained as of Sunday morning, according to Cal Fire.
The cause of the fire, which started on Tuesday morning, is still under investigation.
Over 5,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed. Officials have confirmed that more than 420 homes in Malibu and the Pacific Palisades have been incinerated.
The wealthy enclave houses many celebrities who have now lost their homes, including Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and Milo Ventimiglia.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has reported five deaths related to the Palisades fire so far.
Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire, which has impacted the Pasadena-Altadena area since it began on Tuesday, has now swept through more than 14,000 acres, according to Cal Fire. The blaze is 15% contained.
The fire’s cause is still under investigation, but the flames have damaged over 160 structures and destroyed over 1,200 more, Cal Fire reported.
Eleven deaths have so far been attributed to the Eaton Fire, according to a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office report.
Other fires
While the Palisades and Eaton fires have grown to be the largest in size, additional smaller fires have been reported throughout the region.
The Hurst Fire, impacting the northern part of the San Fernando Valley, started late Tuesday night and has spread to around 800 acres. According to Cal Fire, it is 76% contained. The evacuation order for the area was lifted on Thursday afternoon, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said on Thursday.
The Kenneth Fire, now 90% contained, has covered just over 1,050 acres across Los Angeles and Ventura counties after starting on Thursday, per Cal Fire. The evacuation orders related to the blaze have been lifted.
Further North, the Lidia Fire broke out Wednesday in the Angeles National Forest and burned 395 acres in three days before being 100% contained, Cal Fire reported.
