Two massive, wind-fueled wildfires have claimed at least 16 lives and scorched 37,000 acres in the greater Los Angeles area, destroying over 12,000 structures and devastating entire communities, according to NBC. Firefighters are working to contain two additional, smaller fires in the region.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed that 13 people remain missing, though it’s unclear if these cases are directly tied to the wildfires.
Evacuation orders for the largest blaze, the Palisades Fire, have expanded as the fire pushes eastward, threatening neighborhoods like Brentwood and Encino.
The fire is currently 11% contained, while roughly 153,000 residents have been forced to evacuate.
Governor Gavin Newsom has called for an independent investigation into water supply failures, including a loss of water pressure affecting local fire hydrants and the reported inaccessibility of supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health declared a public health emergency, warning that smoke and fine particles from the fires pose serious health risks. Residents were urged to follow health recommendations, including staying indoors and using air purifiers.
Nearly 35,000 homes and businesses in Los Angeles remain without power. Southern California Edison reported outages affecting 18,400 customers, while about 16,100 Los Angeles Department of Water & Power customers and 100 Pasadena Water and Power customers are also impacted.
Fire crews are struggling to contain the two largest wildfires: the Palisades Fire, which has burned 23,654 acres, and the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, which spans 14,117 acres. Both fires remain at 11% and 15% containment, respectively.
Progress has been made on smaller fires. The Kenneth Fire, which started in Woodland Hills and burned 1,052 acres, is now 80% contained. The Hurst Fire, which has spread across 799 acres, is 76% contained.
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for parts of Southern California through Wednesday, citing strong northeast winds of up to 45 mph in areas like the Inland Empire, Santa Ana Mountains, and San Bernardino County. Some regions may experience gusts as high as 55 mph, increasing the risk of rapid fire spread.
Meteorologists warned that the most critical periods for fire activity would occur Saturday night through Sunday morning and Monday night into early Tuesday. Fire Weather Watch Warnings are also in effect for the Riverside County Mountains, San Diego County Mountains, and nearby valleys.