Aircraft dropped water and fire retardant on steep hills on Saturday to stem the frightening eastward spread of the Palisades wildfire in Los Angeles.
On-the-ground firefighting efforts intensified amid warnings of wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour that could make matters worse. Over the past 24 hours, the Palisades Fire spread over an additional 1,000 acres, officials reported, and consumed more homes as only light breezes fanned the flames.
Earlier on Saturday, Cal Fire official Todd Hopkins told reporters at a press conference that while 11% of the Palisades Fire was now contained, it has burned over 22,000 acres.
UPDATED: Dramatic before-and-after satellite photos show California wildfire destruction t.co/NVxNyq1OeL
— KTLA (@KTLA) January 11, 2025Hopkins said the Palisades Fire had spread into the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and threatened to jump into Brentwood, another upscale L.A. area, and the San Fernando Valley. It also inched towards the 405 freeway and the renowned Getty Museum.
At a briefing, CalFire Operations Chief Christian Litz said a main focus Saturday would be flames from Palisades Fire burning in the canyon, not far from the UCLA campus.
“We need to be aggressive out there,” Litz said.
Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 16, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, as officials continue to try to account for losses from the onslaught of fires that have besieged greater Los Angeles since Tuesday.
Mexico is doing what it can to help, sending a team of firefighters to California.
“The humanitarian aid group is leaving for Los Angeles, California,” Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on X on Saturday morning, posting photos of firefighters holding the flags of Mexico and California and standing on the runway in front of two planes.
En este momento sale el grupo de ayuda humanitaria a Los Ángeles, California. Somos un país generoso y solidario. Gracias al equipo del Plan DN-III-E de la Secretaría de la Defensa, a los combatientes forestales y a @laualzua, coordinadora nacional de Protección Civil. Llevan con… pic.twitter.com/MviVvKCxvE
— Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (@Claudiashein) January 11, 2025“We are a country of generosity and solidarity,” she added.
Gov. Gavin Newsom thanked Sheinbaum on X, saying “California is deeply grateful for President @ClaudiaShein’s support as we work to suppress the Los Angeles wildfires.”
The team arrived as the National Weather Service warned of worsening Santa Ana winds. Forecasters predicted they would pick up Saturday into Sunday morning in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and again on late Monday through Tuesday morning, bringing sustained winds up to 30 mph and wind gusts up to 70 mph.
Firefighters from Mexico just arrived at LAX. They'll be joining 14,000+ personnel already battling the #PalisadesFire.California is immensely grateful to our neighbors' support in the fight against the wildfires in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/qchedlXYK1
— Governor Newsom (@CAgovernor) January 11, 2025“We’re in a continued period of critical fire weather through Wednesday,” said NWS meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld. Conditions were expected to moderate by Thursday.
Evacuation orders throughout the Los Angeles area now cover 153,000 residents, putting 57,000 structures at risk. Another 166,000 residents have been warned that they may have to evacuate, said county Sheriff Robert Luna.
But significant progress was reported in bringing power back to Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Southern California Edison CEO Steven Powell told reporters there are now about 50,000 customers without power, “down from over half a million just a couple days ago.”
Powell said there was no evidence that any of Edison’s equipment caused the Hurst fire but added that the investigation was continuing.
SoCalGas officials say they are working with contractors, with mutual aid from San Diego Gas and Electric, Northwest Natural and Pacific Gas and Electric to restore service. Still, they say it may take days or even weeks to restore service in the Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre communities due to the large number of impacted customers.
Multiple blazes have ripped across Los Angeles County neighborhoods, damaging or destroying 12,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles.
Firefighters have gained the upper hand in most cases – Newsom said Saturday that the Hurst Fire was 76% contained – with the Palisades and Eaton fires remaining the top concerns.
The death toll is expected to mount when firefighters are able to conduct house-to-house searches.
In addition to Mexico, seven neighboring states, the federal government and Canada have rushed aid and additional firefighters to Southern California, bolstering aerial teams and ground crews.
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