Firefighters are working to control the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles, which have killed at least 11 people and burned an area larger than San Francisco. After four intense days, they have made some progress in containing the blazes.
By Friday morning, officials reported some success in limiting the two largest fires while making significant progress with three smaller ones. This allowed some evacuation orders to be lifted. Despite these efforts, the situation remains critical, with six wildfires still active, including a new one that ignited early on Friday.
Although strong winds that have fuelled the fires are expected to ease later on Friday, they are forecast to return over the weekend. Sheriff Robert Luna stated that roughly 153,000 people remain under evacuation orders in Los Angeles County.
“Our priority is to protect lives, homes, and businesses,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. She also confirmed that recovery and rebuilding plans were already underway. The devastation, however, is staggering: at least 10,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed, entire neighbourhoods have vanished, and many landmarks are gone.
Economic and human impact
The fires are expected to cause economic losses of $50-60 billion (£40-48 billion), potentially making them the most expensive wildfires in US history. Officials fear the death toll may rise as rescue teams continue searching the ruins.
Among the confirmed victims are an 82-year-old church volunteer and a 67-year-old amputee who died alongside his son, a young man with cerebral palsy.
California Governor Gavin Newsom called for an investigation into the fires, including reports of failed hydrants and water shortages that hampered firefighting efforts. He has also invited President-elect Donald Trump to visit the affected areas, expressing hope for ongoing federal support.
Containment progress
Firefighters have made progress in containing the Palisades Fire (8%) and the Eaton Fire (3%), with smaller fires like the Hurst and Kenneth fires over one-third contained. Containment involves creating barriers to prevent further spread, even if parts of the fire continue to burn.
Resources continue to pour in from Colorado, Quebec, and Mexico. However, severe drought and the lack of rain in the forecast remain significant challenges. Since October, Los Angeles International Airport has recorded just 0.07cm of rain, the lowest on record. Normally, the area would have received 12.7cm during this period.
Emergency alerts and community recovery
Officials are investigating an erroneous evacuation alert sent county-wide instead of to a smaller area near the Kenneth Fire. Kevin McGowan, Director of Emergency Management, apologised for the mistake and acknowledged the distress it caused.
Schools remain closed across Los Angeles, and a haze of smoke covers the city. Authorities have also imposed a 6pm curfew in evacuation zones to prevent looting.
Many residents are now dealing with the aftermath of the destruction. At a temporary shelter in Westwood, Phillip Cohen, 68, described his sense of loss. “I’ve lost everything,” he said, holding only the clothes on his back. Cohen, a retired teacher, is uncertain if his scorched Pacific Palisades condominium will survive inspection.
David Eagle, a former television writer, evacuated his family home with just a bag of essentials. For two days, he worried that their 22-year-old house would be destroyed. On Thursday, he learned it had survived, but he is frustrated by restrictions preventing residents from retrieving belongings or inspecting their homes.
Affected institutions and widespread damage
At NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, firefighters successfully protected the facility, but more than 150 employees lost their homes. This includes a new mother who had given birth three days earlier, a travelling family of four who lost everything, and a café worker raising three children.
“It’s devastating,” said Julia Milton, a laboratory engineer who is helping affected colleagues while managing her own recovery.
Los Angeles faces a daunting recovery, with countless residents and officials working tirelessly to navigate the fallout from this unprecedented disaster.
