By Corina Knoll, Soumya Karlamangla, Mike Ives and Juliet Macur
Authorities in Los Angeles expressed hope that decreasing wind speeds on Thursday might provide an opportunity for firefighters to gain control over the rapidly spreading fires that have swept through neighborhoods this week. However, they cautioned that the risk for existing fires to expand and new fires to ignite remained extremely high, exacerbating an already dire situation that has forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate and left many more traumatized.
Approximately 180,000 individuals are currently under mandatory evacuation orders, with at least five fatalities reported from the fires, which have scorched around 29,000 acres — roughly equal to 22,000 football fields. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna commented that certain areas “look as if a bomb had detonated in them” and predicted, “I believe the death toll will increase.”
Among the blazes is the Palisades fire, which has impacted thousands of structures in one of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods, burning over 17,200 acres and marking it as “one of the most devastating natural disasters in Los Angeles’s history,” according to Kristin M. Crowley, chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Although wind speeds have decreased, the devastating fires persist in demolishing buildings and transforming them into desolate areas of debris and ash, as helicopters and planes release water from an ominous orange sky and firefighters on the ground combat the flames with new water supplies after hydrants ran dry in preceding days.
Meteorologists have indicated that the period of reduced winds will be brief, with strong gusts anticipated to return late Thursday. While these gusts may not be as severe as those on Wednesday, forecasters believe critical fire weather conditions will likely persist throughout Thursday.
Here’s what you need to be aware of:
— Recent forecast: Meteorologists warned of moderate to strong Santa Ana winds anticipated to strengthen Thursday night, with wind speeds ranging between 20 to 30 mph and gusts possibly reaching 60 mph. Heavy winds could return over the weekend and possibly into next week.
— Psychological impact: Mental health professionals caution that survivors of wildfires, especially those who have lost their homes, may face severe and lasting mental health consequences.
— Ground situation: The fires have ravaged communities across various socioeconomic levels, affecting opulent homes as well as modest townhouses, ranches, and subdivisions. Residents feel overwhelmed by the extensive devastation and perceive themselves trapped in the midst of a massive catastrophe.
— Additional cancellations: The Los Angeles Lakers postponed their NBA game on Thursday night against the Charlotte Hornets, stating in their announcement that they would reschedule to allow people to “focus on what truly matters today.” The team’s head coach, JJ Redick, had to evacuate his home in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood devastated by the wildfires.
— Damage assessments: The financial toll of the fires may surpass $50 billion, posing a significant challenge for California’s insurance sector, which is already facing instability. Insurers are grappling with recovery after previous wildfires severely impacted their profits.
— Climate considerations: Santa Ana winds are infamous for facilitating the spread of wildfires and are typically common in colder months. By January, however, their effects are usually less severe, as the rain from the fall and early winter makes the landscape less flammable. This year, though, the anticipated rains have failed to materialize, leaving much of Southern California exceedingly dry. Researchers have also noted that wildfires in the region have been spreading more rapidly in recent decades.
