At least five people killed as six fires burn across the Los Angeles County with officials expecting the death toll to rise.
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Wildfires that have ravaged some of the city’s most picturesque areas are continuing to grow. Firefighters responding to the emergencies say at least five people were killed in three major out of control blazes.
As winds eased and firefighters from across the state arrived to relieve exhausted crews, many thought the situation would begin to fall under control, but the danger was far from over. A sixth fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills, prompting evacuation orders to thousands of residents that extended to some areas in the neighbouring Santa Monica.
Officials say more than 1,000 structures, mostly homes, were destroyed so far and some 130,000 people remain under evacuation orders in the metropolitan area, a number that continues to change as new fires erupt.
A thick smoke wafted over many parts of Los Angeles. At least seven school were either damaged or destroyed.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said firefighters from different parts of California arrived to assist local units along with air operations in dousing the flames.
Bass warned they continued to face “erratic winds”, though much calmer than Tuesday evening’s, which are causing the fires to spread at a more rapid rate.
In Pasadena, one of the affected areas, Fire Chief Chad Augustin said that an estimated 200 to 500 structures were damaged or lost from the Eaton fire that started Tuesday night as a result of what were described as “hurricane force winds”.
On the Pacific Coast, west of downtown Los Angeles, a major fire in the Pacific Palisades levelled entire blocks, reducing everything it struck to rubble. Authorities estimate the damage from the Palisades fire to be more than 1,000 structures, making it the most destructive in Los Angeles’ modern history.
Images of the devastation showed luxurious homes that had collapsed in a whirlwind of flaming embers, swimming pools were blackened with soot and sports carts slumped on melted tires.
The affluent Pacific Palisades neighbourhood in Los Angeles has long been a celebrity favourite.
Many of Hollywood’s biggest stars were either forced to evacuate or lost their property to the fires. Some of the A-listers include Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, who lost their home, and Paris Hilton whose beachfront Malibu Home was swallowed by the flames.
“This morning, we woke up to a dark cloud over all of Los Angeles. But it is darkest for those who are most intimately impacted by these fires. It has been an immensely painful 24 hours,” said Lindsey Horvath, LA County Supervisor.
The air in multiple areas across LA were filled with a thick cloud of smoke and ash prompting authorities to issue air quality advisories.
Fires have consumed a total of about 22 square miles (57 square km) within a day. Smoke and ash drifted well beyond the Los Angeles County to communities in the east and south.
Residents are being urged to stay indoors where possible, limit vigorous physical activity, follow updates and developments from authorities and heed calls to evacuate if issued.