Jan. 12 (UPI) — Firefighters have partly or mostly contained four remaining wildfires in the Los Angeles area as of Saturday while more than 153,000 residents are under evacuation orders.
At least 16 have died in the fires that burned in the greater Los Angeles area, according to NBC News. It has scorched 39,622 acres, which is 62 square miles, and destroyed more than 12,300 structures, according to Cal Fire.
The biggest blaze, the Palisades Fire, has been pushing inland toward Brentwood and the Bel-Air area. A second front is moving toward the San Fernando Valley, Encino and Sherman Oaks areas of Los Angeles.
More than 153,000 residents of impacted areas are under mandatory evacuation orders and could be charged with misdemeanors if they don’t evacuate. The total emergency response is 17,587.
Though firefighters made progress because of diminished winds and dry conditions, they are bracing for that reprieve to end. Wind speeds will jump from single-digit miles per hour up to 20 or 30 mph range overnight and into Sunday.
The Weather Prediction Center said: “Critical fire-weather conditions will unfortunately ramp up again today for southern California and last through at least early next week as periodic enhancements of off-shore winds continue. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted the region with this Critical Risk (level 2/3) due to forecast sustained winds of 20 mph, with gusts to 40+, and dry relative humidity. This may lead to the spread of ongoing fires as well as the development of new ones.”
LA mayor on fire-containment progress
“You saw last night that the fires intensified,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said during a press conference Saturday morning. “The Palisades fire expanded, leading to additional evacuations in Encino and parts of Brentwood.”
She said firefighting efforts in the air and on the ground have led to increased containment of the fire and help is available for Los Angeles-area residents.
“The National Guard is here, too, helping relieve our firefighters and secure the perimeter of our evacuation zones, aiding our Los Angles police officers in having zero tolerance for crime,” Bass said.
On Saturday, Gov. Gavin Newsom doubled the National Guard presence to 1,680, “Joining the thousands of personnel deployed to combat the hurricane-force firestorm in Los Angeles, CalGuard service members are fighting fires and ensuring the public safety of communities.”
“Let me just say that again: Zero tolerance for crime,” she emphasized. “That means if you are bold enough to go into a fire area and attempt to break into homes or do looting of any type, you will be arrested [and] you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
“In the grief, in the anger, in the pain that we are going through, the idea that there would be predators out there that would try to take advantage of this situation will not be tolerated.”
Disaster assistance for fire victims
Bass said Federal Emergency Management Agency teams are on the ground providing in-person support helping people apply for disaster relief at the Westwood Recreation Center and Ritchie Valens Park in Los Angeles.
FEMA enables fire victims to apply online for disaster assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or via the FEMA mobile app.
Disaster assistance also is available by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362.
FEMA has received more than 16,000 applications for individual assistance from wildfires, regional administrator Bob Fenton said Saturday.
The Small Business Administration is offering home disaster loans, business disaster loans and economic injury disaster loans at lending.SBA.gov.Four wildfires’ breakdown
As of Saturday, the Palisades fire that started on Tuesday has burned 23,654 acres and is 11% contained, according to Cal Fire.
The Eaton fire is the next-largest conflagration with 14,117 acres burned since igniting on Tuesday. That fire is 15% contained, according to Cal Fire.
The Kenneth fire, 1,052 acres, and the Hurst fire, 799 acres, also continue to burn but are largely contained.
The Kenneth fire is 80% and the Hurst fire 76% contained as of Saturday morning, according to Cal Fire.
Health impact
Smoke and other impacts from the wildfires have spurred Los Angeles County officials to declare a local health emergency.
“The fires, coupled with strong winds, have severely degraded air quality by releasing hazardous smoke and particulate matter, posing immediate and long-term risks to public health,” county official said Friday in a news release.
“Additionally, the fires have caused widespread displacement of residents, prompted emergency evacuations from healthcare facilities and disrupted vital health services and resources,” they added.
Los Angeles County officials have banned the use of power air blowers, including leaf blowers, throughout the county until further notice.
“These devices stir up ash and particulate matter into the air, further worsening air quality and increasing health risks for everyone and their pets, particularly for those with respiratory conditions, older adults, children and other vulnerable populations,” county officials said.
Health precautions
Local officials advise residents to stay indoors if they smell smoke, keep their doors and windows closed and use air conditioners that recirculate air to filter out potentially harmful particles.
They also suggest wearing N95 or P100 masks while outside in smoky conditions, shutting off air conditioners that only draw in outside air without recirculating it and checking and replacing air filters.
Those whose homes are too hot indoors to keep doors and windows closed and lack air conditioning should visit public places, like local libraries and shopping centers, to stay cool and avoid potentially harmful outside air.
County officials also recommend residents don’t use fireplaces, candles or vacuums, and suggest using a damp cloth to clean dusty areas.
Anyone who experiences coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pains or other symptoms are advised to seek medical help.
Residents also are advised to keep their pets indoors, especially at night, and take them to an animal hospital if they experience respiratory problems, including coughing, gagging or breathing difficulty.
Arson arrests
The wildfire’s causes remain unknown, but at least two people have been arrested for alleged arson.
California State Parks officials announced Gloria Lynn Mandich, 60, was arrested and charged with felony arson in Ventura County Superior Court on Friday.
Mandich was charged for allegedly igniting a brush fire on Wednesday near Leo Carrillo State Park in Los Angeles County.
The area has been under a red flag warning due to severe fire danger intensified by Santa Ana winds.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department quickly extinguished the fire.
Another arson suspect was arrested in Azusa late Friday night.
Azusa Police officers arrested a homeless man named Jose Carranza-Escobar at 11:40 p.m. PST Friday while he stood near the flames of a fire he allegedly started in Pioneer Park.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded quickly and extinguished the flames.
