Tragic California Wildfires Claim Five Lives

California, Jan 9 (NationPress) A series of severe wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles County, the most densely populated county in the United States, have tragically claimed the lives of at least five individuals and led to significant damage, affecting over 1,100 buildings, according to authorities.

The Palisades Fire, a fierce wind-driven brush fire in Pacific Palisades that ignited on Tuesday, has rapidly consumed 15,800 acres (63.9 square km) as of Wednesday afternoon, with no containment reported, as stated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

Cal Fire highlighted, "Extreme fire behavior, including short and long-range spotting, continues to impede firefighting operations for the Palisades Fire."

The inferno has devastated approximately 1,000 structures, including numerous luxury homes situated between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, prompting thousands to evacuate as new evacuation warnings were issued for Malibu, according to reports from the Xinhua news agency.

In an affluent community located 32 km west of downtown Los Angeles, iconic landmarks, such as the opulent Getty Villa museum featuring Greek and Roman antiquities and the mid-century modern Eames House, face threats from the fire.

Reports indicate that three schools in Palisades suffered significant damage due to the fire.

The Eaton Fire, which erupted on Tuesday evening, has scorched over 10,600 acres (42.9 square km) near Altadena and Pasadena, neighboring cities of Los Angeles, resulting in five fatalities and serious injuries to many, according to fire and police officials.

Cal Fire reported that firefighters are vigorously working to control the blaze's spread and safeguard critical infrastructure under extreme conditions.

Simultaneously, the Hurst Fire, which rapidly spread overnight due to high winds in Sylmar, has burned over 700 acres (2.83 square km) as of Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities attribute the perilous wildfire situation in Southern California to a mix of strong winds, extremely low humidity, and dry vegetation, with exceptionally strong winds and gusts reaching up to 160 kph reported overnight.

A Particularly Dangerous Situation red flag warning remains in effect across the region through Thursday afternoon, alongside a high wind warning lasting through Wednesday evening.

As of Wednesday afternoon, local TV station KTLA reported widespread power outages caused by the wildfires across Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego counties, affecting over 4 million customers.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, following the evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents due to the rapidly advancing wildfire in Southern California.