Los Angeles wildfires: Hurricane-force winds prompt new level of alert as death toll hits 24
The scale of the Los Angeles fires is proving tough to quantify, but the term ‘worst natural disaster in history’ is now a reality as the death toll from blazes burning out of control is raised to 24, with caution that figure is set to rise dramatically.
In the space of 24 hours, the death toll doubled as National Guard troops surged into the area and specialised search and rescue teams discovered bodies seemingly on the hour.
The California Fire Service has issued statements explaining the renewed threat and an unprecedented level of alert.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Life threatening winds’ picking back up between Sunday and Wednesday as authorities issued a rare ‘particularly dangerous situation’ red flag warning - which was also issued the day before the initial fires broke out last week,” CalFire said in the statement.
“Life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity are forecast for much of Southern California - from Ventura to San Diego - creating a significant risk of rapid fire spread.
“The winds will cause increased fire activity.”
Warnings from meteorologists that hurricane force winds will build over the next three days, have forced authorities to re-issue the red flag warnings as the mass evacuation continues.
Respected meteorologist Rose Schoenfield issued a warning as the hell fires continue to spread and the state of California is now considered much like a war zone .
“The general duration of this is not looking good,” Ms Schoenfield said.
The LA medical examiner updated the death count on Sunday afternoon (local time), revealing 24 people are now confirmed dead as a result of the fires.
Many more people have been reported as missing and officials expect the search and recovery efforts to take an extened period given the fires are still burning with little containment and life preservation the current number one priority.
“I know you want to get back in your houses, and we’re coming up with plans to do that, but we keep getting stalled by Mother Nature,” Joe Everett, assistant chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, told a news conference Sunday evening.
A 6pm to 6am curfew remains in place to protect properties in the fire zone as police and soldiers struggle to differentiate between actual firefighters and a rash of looters who have been dressing as first responders to gain access to off limit areas.
More than 92,000 people have been ordered to evacuate and 89,000 others have been warned to prepare to do so, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a Monday (local) news conference.
“We have people literally looking for the remains of your neighbours. Please be patient with us,” Luna said.
Four fires have burned through 40,000 acres, an area roughly the size of Paris, across the most affluent neighborhoods in LA, with A-list celebrity homes and restaurant hotspots among the 12,300 structures wiped out.
Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley reiterated the importance of the continued oeffrts to evacute.
“It’s very important that the community understands that these wind events are coming,’ Chief Crowley said.
The latest blaze to take hold, the Eaton fire, has now spread through slightly less land at 14,117 acres, but has cost at least 16 lives with the death toll expected to rise.
