Sign in

Palisades fire in Los Angeles aftermath — Biden says feds will pay for disaster

Wildfires raging across Los Angeles County have scorched over 49 square miles and forced nearly 179,000 residents to evacuate, officials reported Thursday.

Current aftermath

The ongoing wildfires across Los Angeles have wreaked havoc on the city, claiming at least 11 lives and destroying over 12,000 homes and other structures.

An estimated 180,000 residents remain under evacuation orders, with another 166,800 facing warnings as firefighters struggle to control six major blazes consuming approximately 56 square miles (145 square kilometers) of the region.

The fires have obliterated a range of buildings, including homes, schools, libraries, religious institutions, small businesses, and cherished local landmarks.

The two largest fires, the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, remain entirely uncontained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Both fires have inflicted widespread devastation:

  • Palisades Fire: has burned 17,234 acres and is 0% contained, this inferno has likely destroyed thousands of structures in Los Angeles.
  • Eaton Fire: Situated in the hills above Altadena, this blaze has claimed five lives, burned over 16 square miles, and destroyed nearly 1,000 buildings.

Residents in affected areas shared harrowing stories of their escapes, with many returning to find their homes reduced to ash.

A smaller but alarming fire, the Sunset Fire, erupted Wednesday in the Hollywood Hills, threatening iconic landmarks and prompting immediate evacuations. By Thursday, officials declared the fire fully contained, and evacuation orders were lifted.

Two other fires, the Hurst Fire and the Lidia Fire, have burned smaller but still significant areas:

  • Hurst Fire: Scorched 855 acres and is only 10% contained.
  • Lidia Fire: Burned 348 acres and is 60% contained as of Thursday afternoon.

Biden addresses the situation

President Joe Biden has addressed the ongoing chaos in Los Angeles and said the federal Government will cover up 100% of the damage done by the wild fires.

A video posted by @JonVigliotti shows the aftermath of the raging fire, most everything is gone. Homes, apartments, businesses all burned to ashes.

Los Angeles officials reported that there have been 2 deaths and many with injuries from the raging fire in Eaton Canyon.

The Santa Ana winds, infamous for their ability to worsen wildfire conditions, are expected to gust at speeds exceeding 85 miles per hour overnight, according to AccuWeather.

One video shared on X (Twitter) by @FirePhotoGirl showed as caretakers wheeled elderly patients from The Terraces at Park Marino nursing home across smoke-filled streets to safety.

Local authorities confirmed that the elderly residents were successfully relocated to safer areas, averting potential tragedy.

ABC7 Eyewitness News reported that several homes had already been lost to the fire in Altadena, with the situation described as “hell unleashed” by witnesses.

One video posted by Resist Times on X(Twitter) shows two man and their home pet, dog, barricaded in their home from the raging fires.

As the situation develops, officials are urging residents in evacuation zones to leave immediately and stay updated through local emergency alerts.