The fires, which began last Tuesday, have been fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, which are expected to persist until midweek. According to Cal Fire, the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth, and Hurst fires have scorched roughly 160 square kilometers.
The cause of the fires is still unknown, but early estimates suggest they could become the most expensive in U.S. history, with AccuWeather predicting damage and economic losses between USD 135 billion and USD 150 billion.
The fires have threatened and destroyed multiple densely populated areas, including Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Approximately 150,000 people have been evacuated, and more than 700 individuals are sheltering in nine evacuation centers.
As of Sunday, Cal Fire reported that the Palisades Fire was 11% contained, while the Eaton Fire was 27% contained. Nearly 70,000 customers in California were without power, with more than half of them in Los Angeles County, according to PowerOutage.us. The fires have also caused extensive damage to the region’s sewer, water, and power infrastructure.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for dangerous fire conditions through Wednesday, as the strong Santa Ana winds are expected to return. These winds, combined with the lack of significant rainfall for over eight months, have been fueling the fires, turning them into devastating infernos.
