Los Angeles Wildfire Death Toll Rises To 7 As Two New Blaze Erupt: Top Updates

Wildfires in Los Angeles have killed at least five, destroyed hundreds of buildings, and forced 180,000 to evacuate. The Kenneth Fire has also ignited in the West Hills neighborhood.

Representational Image

Source : ABPLIVE AI

Wildfires have gone out-of-control and are creating ripple-effect across parts of Los Angeles. This has led to at least five deaths across the country. Hundreds of buildings have been burnt, which has led to evacuation for nearly 180,000 residents, a report from BBC states.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said that the death toll may rise. He added that a more thorough investigation needs to be done in the affected areas. Explaining the gravity of the fire Luna said, "look like a bomb was dropped in them".

As per the information, another fire has been ignited on Thursday afternoon. According to AP, the department has issued orders for what is called the Kenneth Fire near the West Hills neighborhood of LA in the San Fernando Valley. This has led to evacuation in the area.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said that 900 additional firefighters are now being deployed to battle the fast-moving Kenneth Fire near the West Hills and Calabasas.

Eaton Fire has also has blazed through 13,690 acres, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said on Thursday, and potentially 4,000-5,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed.

The AP has reported that the death toll from the two main fires in and around Los Angeles has risen to seven. There have been five deaths from the Eaton Fire. To the west in Pacific Palisades, two people have died in the fire burning in the LA area.

• At least 20 people have been arrested in the aftermath of massive fires that have teared through Los Angeles. According to the police, they have warned that officers were flooding the affected areas and this would challenge anyone they thought should not be there. The Guardian has reported that law enforcement officials said there has only been one looting incident in the Palisades region.

• Los Angeles Times have stated that officials on Thursday said that more than 9,000 homes, businesses and other buildings appeared to have been damaged or destroyed in the Palisades and Eaton fires. As per their report, around 5,300 of these structures were destroyed in the Palisades fire. However another 4,000 to 5,000 structures were estimated to be damaged or destroyed in the Eaton fire burning in the Altadena area.

• US Vice President Kamala Harris is canceling the final foreign trip to Singapore, Bahrain and Germany from Jan. 13 to 17 because of the wildfires in California, her office announced. Earlier, President Joe Biden also did the same who was due to travel Rome to visit Pope Francis and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but instead stayed in Washington.
• According to California governor Gavin Newsom, the containment of the Palisades fire is at 6% as of 18:00 local time (02:00 GMT). President Biden has announced that the federal government will cover the full the cost of measures to protect lives and property in Southern California for six months.
• The NFL is deciding to move the Rams’ wild-card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to Arizona after days of devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The playoff game will be played on Monday night at State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, in suburban Glendale, Arizona, as reported by AP.
• The 90-year-old mother of Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is among thousands who have lost their homes as fierce wildfires rage in the Los Angeles area.
• According to District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, all Los Angeles Unified schools and offices will remain closed on Friday because of the fires and the classes will not resume until the conditions improve.