Some Los Angeles County residents will wake up to hazardous conditions today, as polluted air and unsafe water pose a threat in several areas.
At least five people have been killed and officials expect the death toll to rise as fast-moving fires continue to blaze across Los Angeles County, mostly uncontained.
The fires are the most destructive in LA history, with more than 1,000 structures burnt and over 130,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings as of Wednesday. More than 200,000 homes and buildings are without power.
Here’s where things stand:
The major fires: The Palisades Fire that is scorching the seaside area between Malibu and Santa Monica has exploded to more than 17,200 acres with zero containment. The other massive blaze, the fast-moving Eaton Fire, is overtaking homes across Altadena is at 10,600 acres and 0% contained. The Hurst Fire is at least 855 acres and 10% contained, while the Lidia Fire is 348 acres and 40% contained. The newest to break out is the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, where evacuation orders have been issued, and is burning through 60 acres with zero containment. The Woodley Fire has now been contained 100% having burnt 30 acres.
Why the fires spread so quickly: Extreme fire weather ignited fires throughout Southern California, as strong winds and low humidity exacerbate conditions. The wind and fast-moving embers were the biggest factors that caused the fire to spread so quickly, according to Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin. Although winds decreased in intensity Wednesday, they were still making it difficult for firefighters. The cause of the Eaton fire is “unknown and under active investigation,” LA Country Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said. Wildfires are fueled by a knot of factors, but scientists say that global warming is loading the dice in favor of more intense and severe blazes.
Fire forecast: Critical fire weather is forecast to last across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties through Friday. While much of Southern California should see a brief lull in wind gusts this morning, the National Weather Service warned that winds are expected to begin to increase through the day. Red flag warnings remain for over 10 million people.
Costliest wildfire in history: The Palisades wildfire alone is expected to be the costliest in history, according to climate scientist Daniel Swain. It’s also the most destructive fire in state history to occur in the month of January.
Dedicated response: Firefighters are risking their lives battling the fast-moving wildfires, with some personnel working 36-hour and 48-hour shifts. More than 7,500 firefighting and emergency workers have been mobilized. Nevada is also sending resources from multiple fire agencies to Southern California to help in the firefight, and the California National Guard has deployed troops.
Water concerns: The City of Pasadena issued an urgent alert concerning unsafe drinking water in areas impacted by recent evacuations due to the Eaton Fire. The Pasadena Water and Power system may be compromised by “debris and elevated turbidity,” according to the city. Residents are advised to rely solely on bottled water for all consumption, including drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth and pet care.
Air quality: The excessive smoke and ash has caused air quality to plummet to ‘hazardous’ levels across parts of the region and air quality alerts are in place in many areas, including Downtown Los Angeles. Altadena has a current air quality index of 426, which exceeds the worst air quality seen in New Delhi, a city notorious for air pollution, over the last two days.
Learning disrupted: All schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District will be closed today. The district will announce a decision by 4:00 p.m. PT on whether schools will be open Friday, while all schools in Pasadena will be closed for the rest of the week. In the Palisades, two schools have been burnt to the ground.
