California Wildfires Force Over 100,000 to Evacuate, Five Dead
As reported by The New York Times, the number of fatalities from the catastrophic fires in Southern California has increased to five. The blaze was triggered by dry and windy weather conditions.
Nicole Nishida, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that five people had lost their lives. She also stated that the blaze had engulfed more than 25,000 acres.
By Wednesday afternoon, 1.5 million customers in Los Angeles County were without electricity. Previously, the death toll stood at two. During a press conference on Wednesday, L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone announced that the Eaton Fire resulted in two fatalities and numerous injuries.
As reported by the state fire agency CalFire, the Palisades Fire has destroyed over 1,000 homes, marking it as the most devastating fire in Los Angeles history. According to a report by The New York Times, more than 100,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes.
U.S. President Joe Biden wrote in a post on X, "Over 100,000 individuals have been instructed to leave areas impacted by the Southern California wildfires. At least two fatalities have been reported, and numerous others, including firefighters, have sustained injuries. It's a tragic situation. Our thoughts are with the residents of Southern California."
The Eaton Fire, ignited miles away from the Palisades Fire in Altadena, California, has consumed 2,227 acres of forest with no containment. Meanwhile, the Hearst Fire, spreading northeast of San Fernando, California, has burned at least 500 acres.
The National Weather Service reported that another bout of strong winds might arrive by Thursday afternoon and persist until Friday morning, with gusts potentially reaching 70 mph in the mountains.
In response to the devastating wildfire in Los Angeles, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has prolonged the Oscar nomination voting period. Initially set to end on January 12, voting for the nearly 10,000 Academy members started on January 8.