By Patricia Mazzei, Kate Selig and Mike Ives
Residents in the Los Angeles region endured a third day of wind advisories, keeping them on high alert for potential new fires Wednesday, more than a week following the onset of catastrophic fires that have ravaged Southern California.
The severe fire conditions that meteorologists had predicted, including wind gusts reaching at least 30 mph, had not yet been realized by mid-morning. On Tuesday, milder winds than expected enabled firefighters to make headway against the largest fires and to control or extinguish smaller outbreaks.
The emergency caused by the fires, which have claimed at least 25 lives and displaced over 100,000 individuals, is far from resolved. According to county sheriff Robert Luna, who held a news briefing Wednesday morning, more than 82,000 residents in Los Angeles County are currently under evacuation orders, with another 90,400 facing evacuation warnings.
Here are the key points we’re addressing:
— Containment status: The Palisades fire, the largest fire in the region, has scorched nearly 24,000 acres and was 19% contained as of Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire. The Eaton fire has affected over 14,000 acres and was 45% contained. The Auto fire, which expanded to over 60 acres in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, was 50% contained. No additional homes or significant structures were ablaze in either the Palisades or Eaton fires; however, officials cautioned that embers could still smolder underground.
— Weather outlook: Wind gusts and critically low humidity on Wednesday may contribute to the rapid spread of new or existing fires, as indicated by the National Weather Service. A weather front anticipated on Thursday is expected to aid firefighters in regaining control of the fires, although meteorologists have warned of another possible wind event early next week.
— Housing challenges: Among the ongoing concerns is that the loss of thousands of homes has exacerbated the city’s already severe housing crisis. On Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom and members of the Los Angeles City Council initiated preliminary measures to curb property speculation, evictions, and significant rent hikes.
