Tens of thousands have fled their homes as a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades has burned more than 20,400 acres as of Friday. Fire crews are actively working to stop forward progress of the flames, which is currently 6% contained.
Cal Fire reported that more than 10,000 structures have been destroyed by the fire, but they believe the number is much greater.
Late Thursday evening, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner revealed that at least 10 deaths have been confirmed in relation to the devastating fires, two of which are confirmed to be connected to the Palisades Fire.
At a news conference earlier that day, Los Angeles City Mayor Karen Bass referred to the events as an “unprecedented historic firestorm.” She said the priority across the region remains people’s lives and protecting homes.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the Palisades Fire started Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. near 1190 North Piedra Morada Dr. With winds reaching at least 40 mph, the flames quickly spread to about 200 acres and grew exponentially.
It continued to spread rapidly through the hillsides as gusts carried embers. Bass said the strong winds prevented fire crews from using air operations but have since resumed.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said thousands of residents remain under evacuation orders and added that several more thousands remain under evacuation warnings. The Los Angeles Fire Department reports a significant amount of injuries from residents who did not evacuate.
During a Thursday night press conference, LA County leaders confirmed two people died during the Palisades Fire.
“We’re looking for a little respite on Friday and Saturday from the Santa Ana winds but then they’re going to pick up again Sunday through most of next week,” he said Thursday evening.
New blazes have continued to crop up. On Thursday afternoon, the Kenneth Fire started in the San Fernando Valley just 2 miles (3 kilometers) from a school serving as a shelter for evacuees from another fire.
It moved into neighboring Ventura County, but a large and aggressive response by firefighters stopped the flames from spreading. Only hours before the fire roared to life officials said they were encouraged after firefighters aided by calmer winds and help from out-of-state crews saw the first signs of successfully beating back the region’s two devastating wildfires.
According to the AP, A firefighting plane had to be grounded Thursday after it was struck by a drone flown by a civilian, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. Nobody was injured. It’s a federal crime to fly a drone during firefighting.
Firefighters made gains Thursday at slowing the spread of the major fires, but containment remained far out of reach.
Robert Lara sifted through the remains of his home in Altadena, next to Pasadena, on Thursday with tears in his eyes, hoping to find a safe with a set of earrings that once belonged to his great-great-grandmother.
