Key Points
- Firefighters have made some progress in the battle to contain wildfires raging across Los Angeles.
- At least 16 people have died in the fires, including an Australian man.
- Strong wind gusts of up to 110 kph could return early this week prompting more evacuation orders.
Firefighters have made some progress in the battle to contain wildfires raging across Los Angeles, though strong winds are expected to continue driving the flames.
According to Cal Fire, there are still three active fires: the largest Palisades Fire is just 11 per cent contained, while the Eaton Fire is 27 per cent contained and the Hurst Fire now almost 90 per cent contained.
Over the past 24 hours, the Palisades Fire spread over an additional 400 hectares, now covering more than 9500 hectares, and consuming more homes, officials reported.
“LA County had another night of unimaginable terror and heartbreak,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said.
Cal Fire official Todd Hopkins said the Palisades Fire had spread into the Mandeville Canyon and threatened to jump into Brentwood, an upscale neighbourhood that is home to many celebrities, and the San Fernando Valley. It also inched toward the north-south 405 freeway.
At least 16 people dead
At least 16 have been killed in the fires, the LA coroner’s office has confirmed.
Among those who died was , who shared a Malibu property with his mother.
The 32-year-old had cerebral palsy and was living in a self-contained cottage near the main house.
Some residents were allowed to return to the sites of their ruined homes on Saturday to see what they could salvage. Source: AAP / Michael Ho Wai Lee
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he expected the death toll to rise.
“I’ve got search and rescue teams out. We’ve got cadaver dogs out and there’s likely to be a lot more,” he told NBC.
The blazes have now damaged or destroyed more than 12,000 structures with whole neighbourhoods reduced to smouldering ruins, destroying the homes of the rich and famous and ordinary folk alike.
Severe winds to return
Although the Santa Ana winds that have fanned the flames had calmed over the weekend, the National Weather Service warned that stronger gusts of up to 110 kph could return early this week.
Local officials said they expect the strongest winds to occur on Tuesday.
Evacuation orders throughout the Los Angeles area now cover 153,000 residents.
Another 166,000 residents have been warned that they may have to evacuate, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has confirmed active duty military personnel are ready to support the firefighting effort and is encouraging those affected to begin filing for disaster relief.
“We have the funding to support this response, to support this recovery,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said.
However, President-elect Donald Trump has continued to criticise local and state officials.
“The fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place… they just can’t put out the fires. What’s wrong with them?” he said on his Truth Social media feed.
Los Angeles Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said she has invited Trump — who takes office on 20 January — to visit the county to get a first-hand look at the destruction.
