L.A. wildfires devour thousands of homes as death toll rises to 10
Officials concerned about possible resurgence of strong winds on Friday
Firefighters hoped for a break Friday from fierce winds that have fuelled massive blazes in the Los Angeles area, killing 10 people, obliterating whole neighbourhoods and setting the country's second-largest city on edge.
The fires have burned more than 10,000 homes and other structures since Tuesday, in a densely populated, 40-kilometre expanse north of downtown Los Angeles.
No cause has been identified for the largest fires.
Containment of fires remained far out of reach in most cases. At least 180,000 people were under evacuation orders in the fires that have consumed about 145 square kilometres.
National Guard troops have arrived in Los Angeles, to be deployed near fire-ravaged areas to protect property.
Los Angeles sheriff Robert Luna said a curfew on all mandatory evacuation zones will start again at 6 p.m. local time Friday for houses left standing.
At least 20 arrests have been made for looting.
"Looting is a despicable crime," said Los Angeles district attorney Nathan Hochman. "For the people who have already been arrested, please know this is not going to end well."
The city of Santa Monica, which is next to Pacific Palisades, has also issued a curfew because of the lawlessness.
Hochman also promised full prosecution for private citizens flying drones, which is illegal during a fire emergency. A firefighting plane from Quebec had to be grounded Thursday after it was struck by a drone, an incident that did not lead to any injuries.
With nerves on edge, Los Angeles County has sent two alerts, on Thursday and Friday, with incorrect information regarding evacuation orders. Corrections were sent, and the country apologized on Friday, saying it was investigating the issue.
Kevin McGowan, director of the Office of Emergency Management for the County of Los Angeles, said the incorrect messages are not "human driven" and teams are investigating a software issue.
"I implore everyone to not disable the messages on your phone," he said.
The federal government in Ottawa on Friday announced that Canadian military resources would be sent to help firefighters in California.
I have approved a request to deploy <a href="https://twitter.com/RCAF_ARC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RCAF_ARC</a> assets to transport firefighters, equipment, and other resources to California, to assist in fighting the devastating wildfires.<a href="https://twitter.com/CanadianForces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CanadianForces</a> stand ready to transport personnel and equipment to support our American neighbours.
—@BillBlairSenior reportedly died with garden hose in hand
Of the 10 deaths so far, Los Angeles fire Chief Kristin Crowley confirmed two were in the Palisades Fire. County officials said the Eaton Fire had killed five. Cadaver dogs and crews are searching through rubble to see if there are more victims.
Two of the dead were Anthony Mitchell, a 67-year-old amputee, and his son, Justin, who had cerebral palsy. They were waiting for an ambulance to come and did not make it to safety when the flames roared through, Mitchell's daughter, Hajime White, told the Washington Post.
Victor Shaw was identified as one of the other victims, in the Eaton Fire.
Shari Shaw told KTLA that she tried to get her 66-year-old brother to leave Tuesday night but he wanted to stay and fight the fire. A family friend, to the same media outlet, said Victor Shaw was found with a garden hose still in his hand.
The Eaton Fire near Pasadena that started Tuesday night has burned more than 5,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles.
Robert Lara sifted through the remains of his home in Altadena, next to Pasadena, on Thursday with tears in his eyes, hoping to find a safe with a set of earrings that once belonged to his great-great-grandmother.
"All our memories, all our sentimental attachments, things that were gifted from generation to generation to generation are now gone," he said.
Crews knocked down a blaze in the Hollywood Hills with the help of water drops from aircraft, allowing an evacuation order to be lifted Thursday.
At least five churches, a synagogue, seven schools, two libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks and grocery stores have been burned.
All schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the country's second largest, will be closed again Friday because of the heavy smoke and ash affecting city air.
Incorrect alert sent countywide
Many celebrities have lost homes in the blazes including Jeff Bridges, Mandy Moore and Paris Hilton.
Jamie Lee Curtis pledged $1 million US to start a "fund of support" for those affected by the fires that touched all economic levels from the city's wealthy to its working class.
The fires have also led to cancellations and adjustments to sports schedules. Instead of hosting, the Los Angeles Rams will now play their NFL playoff game on Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings at the stadium home to the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz.
The government has not yet released figures on the cost of the damage. AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impact, on Thursday increased its estimate of the damage and economic loss to $135-$150 billion US.
California's wildfire season is beginning earlier and ending later due to rising temperatures and decreased rainfall tied to climate change, according to recent data. Several weather monitoring agencies announced Friday that Earth recorded its hottest year ever in 2024.
Rains that usually end fire season are often delayed, meaning fires can burn through the winter months, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. Dry winds, including the notorious Santa Anas, have contributed to warmer-than-average temperatures in Southern California, which has not seen more than 2.5 millimetres of rain since early May.
U.S. President Joe Biden promised on Thursday that the federal government would reimburse 100 per cent of the recovery for the next 180 days to pay for debris and hazard material removal, temporary shelters and first responder salaries.
