A “particularly dangerous situation” warning was in effect for parts of Southern California on Tuesday morning, with meteorologists warning that strong wind gusts mixed with low humidity will create “extremely critical fire weather conditions.”
Four large fires are currently burning in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection: the Palisades Fire, which has burned 23,713 acres and is 17% contained; the Eaton Fire, which has scorched 14,117 acres and is 35% contained; and the Hurst Fire, which has burned 799 acres and is 97% contained. The Auto Fire, the lone major blaze in Ventura County that broke out on Monday, has burned 56 acres and is 25% contained.
At least 24 people have been killed in the fires and more than a dozen remain missing, officials have said. Those numbers are expected to rise.
More than 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed, and around 88,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation orders.
-
Fire retardant is dropped by an air tanker on the Palisades Fire. (Eric Thayer/AP/File)
The return of strong Santa Ana winds, with gusts over 60 mph will persist through Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. That’s unwelcome news for firefighters still struggling to contain multiple blazes that are still threatening homes in the Los Angeles region.
Here’s a roundup of what transpired on Tuesday:
-
President Biden said the federal government would send a one-time payment of $770 to victims “so they can quickly purchase things like water, baby formula and prescriptions”
-
‘Do not drink’ advisories for water continue to be in effect in several water districts in L.A. County
-
88,000 people remained under mandatory evacuation orders
-
The Angeles National Forest, including the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, remained closed due to “critical fire danger”
-
Multiple wind gusts between 50 mph and 70 mph were reported across the region as red flag warnings remained in effect through Wednesday
-
Citing the threat of new wildfires, utility companies shut off power to 20,000 additional households in Southern California
-
Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order designed to help students and schools affected by the fires
-
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order to expedite the process for rebuilding homes and businesses
-
FEMA is using a website to try to counter misinformation and rumors about the federal response to the fires
-
Residents have access to an interactive map to see the condition of their homes
-
Climate scientists say that rising global temperatures are making climate change disasters like wildfires even worse
-
Leave a Reply