Some evacuation orders in heart of Los Angeles lifted as winds calm marginally, allowing for air support to combat infernos raging in several communities
Authorities struck an initial note of optimism Thursday, saying the "tide is turning" on a devastating firestorm that has torn through multiple Los Angeles area communities, burning thousands of structures and stoking fears of a death toll that is likely to rise.
"While we are still facing significant threats, I am hopeful that the tide is turning," Board of Supervisors Chair Catherine Barker told reporters during a morning news conference.
Barker said as she drove through the city of Altadena where the Eaton Fire has destroyed broad swathes of the foothill community since erupting Tuesday night, she was daunted by "the number of homes, businesses and buildings that were on fire," which she said "dwarfed, in any sense, available resources."
Damage assessments remain ongoing for the five major fires in Los Angeles, but officials estimate that one of the blazes has damaged or destroyed thousands of structures in and around the US' second-largest city.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristen Crowley said the Palisades Fire, the largest inferno burning in and around an affluent community near the coast, has become "one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles."
It has so far burned through 17,234 acres in and around the Pacific Palisades community amid what Crowley described as "extreme fire behavior" that she said is continuing to challenge firefighting efforts. That includes wind gusts of up to 60 mph (97 kph) that are expected to continue throughout the day.
The ongoing windstorm, known locally as the Santa Anas, is a seasonal weather event that increases the danger of wildfires in typically dry southern California. Efforts to combat the fires by air were stunted by gusts that reached up to 100 mph (160 kph), imperiling air crews and rendering air drops of water fire retardant incredibly challenging.
Flights commenced Wednesday as the winds calmed marginally in what Barker called a "welcome sight."
There are a total of 12 helicopters and six fixed-wing aircraft from multiple agencies assisting in the firefighting efforts, the Los Angeles Fire Department told Anadolu during a telephone call.
The Palisades Fire remains 0% contained, as is the city's second-largest fire. The Eaton Fire has burned at least 10,600 acres in and around Altadena, which lies northeast of downtown Los Angeles.
Firefighters have made headway in combatting three other major fires, including the Hurst Fire, Lidia Fire and Sunset Fire.
The Sunset Fire erupted Wednesday in the iconic Hollywood Hills prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders for the area as the inferno spread towards Hollywood Boulevard, the site of the historic Walk of Fame.
The evacuation orders were lifted Thursday morning as firefighters made what Crowley described as progress in beating back the inferno, which has consumed nearly 43 acres.
"This fire was rapidly and aggressively attacked by using coordinated air and ground fire suppression efforts," the fire chief told reporters.
But even as gains were made, Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna raised concern about the likely death toll, calling into question earlier statements that at least five were killed as he directed homicide units to begin investigating alongside cadaver dogs in areas he described as appearing as though "a bomb was dropped in them."
"Unfortunately, based on the preliminary information I've seen, at least in the two large fires that we're dealing with on each side of the county, unfortunately, I think the death toll will rise. I hope I'm wrong, but I think it's going to rise," he said, referring to the Palisades and Eaton Fires. "Right now, frankly, we don't know yet."
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the scenes as "apocalyptic," recounting a recent visit to his sister's neighborhood in Pacific Palisades where he saw home after home reduced to "rubble."
"Those houses no longer exist. They are now basically rubble," he said. "Not since the 1990s when Los Angeles was hit with the fires, the flood, the earthquake and the riots, have I seen such disaster occur here in our city."
