Two weeks have passed since a destructive wave of wildfires first gripped southern California, burning tens of thousands of acres and killing more than two dozen people in what has become one of the worst natural disasters in the state’s history.
Sixteen people have been killed by the Eaton Fire. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
The fires have been largely located in Los Angeles County and began on Jan. 7, when the Palisades Fire ignited and still remains active after two weeks of burning.
The fires materialized amid dry conditions and extremely high winds, with gusts exceeding over 90 mph in some areas and contributing to the spread of multiple fires and the temporary suspension of air support.
The Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire are the only active fires in Los Angeles as of Tuesday as firefighters work to increase containment, though some relatively small fires ignited in San Diego the same day.
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At least 27 people, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Seventeen bodies were found in the Eaton Fire and 10 bodies were found in the Palisades Fire. Some died while trying to protect their property from burning down.
Roughly 40,500 acres, much of which is made up of the acres scorched in the Palisades Fire (23,713) and the Eaton Fire (14,021), according to Cal Fire.
Eight in Los Angeles and 16 fires total in southern California.
At least 15,467 structures were destroyed by the Palisades and Eaton fires, with totals expected to rise.
At least 17 people have been charged for crimes linked to the fires, with the accused facing charges like arson, looting and impersonation of a firefighter. Prosecutors have not said any of those charged with arson were connected to the major fires in Los Angeles.
The damage assessment process is still in its early stages, but potentially somewhere between $250 billion and $275 billion, according to a preliminary estimate from AccuWeather published Jan. 13. Accuweather noted the fires’ cost has surpassed Hurricane Helene’s estimated damages.
More than 16,000, with thousands of first responders coming to Los Angeles from neighboring cities, states and countries including Mexico and Canada.
If the Palisades and Eaton fires do not increase in acreage, they will rank as the No. 4 and No. 2 most destructive wildfires in the history of California, according to Cal Fire. The largest wildfire in state history is the Camp Fire, which exploded in northern California in 2018, burned 153,336 acres and killed 85 people.
The fires in southern California sparked as the region was suffering from a severe lack of rain amid La Niña, a climate phenomenon characterized by warm and dry conditions in the southern states. The last time Los Angeles received a tenth of an inch of rainfall was last May, according to the Los Angeles Times, contributing to drought conditions. The dry conditions accompanied a wind pattern known as the Santa Ana winds, which are strong and dry winds often associated with fire weather. In addition to their destructive toll, the fires shuttered several schools, delayed major sporting events and affected awards shows. Former President Joe Biden announced in the early days of the fires the federal government will pay for 100% of the disaster response for 180 days, covering expenses related to “debris and hazard removal, temporary shelters, first responders’ salaries and all necessary measures to protect life and property.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed the state provide an additional $2.5 billion for emergency response and recovery efforts in Los Angeles.
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