The fires have burned more than 40,000 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). Speaking on NBC on January 12, California Governor Gavin Newsom said it would be the worst fire the United States has ever seen "just in terms of the cost involved and the scale and scope."
According to the Los Angeles government, the number of people killed by the wildfire as of the evening of January 11, local time, was 16. However, Mr. Newsom noted that this number will increase.
The prospect of Santa Ana winds — California’s signature hot, dry winds — fanning the flames prompted tens of thousands of residents to evacuate on Jan. 12. The fires are threatening homes in upscale Mandeville Canyon and Brentwood, though officials said they have made progress in stopping the spread there.
The National Weather Service predicts wind gusts of 50-70 mph as drought conditions persist.
“We know that severe fire conditions will continue through January 15,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Anthony Maroney said on January 12.
According to the nonprofit news service Cal Matters, Los Angeles is experiencing its second driest season in more than a century. At midseason, Los Angeles has recorded just 5mm of rain since October — far below the 114mm it typically sees in January.
Firefighters have contained three fires since Jan. 7, including the Sunset Fire that threatened the Hollywood Hills. The Hurst Fire in the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles, was 80 percent contained by the afternoon of Jan. 12.
But firefighters are still struggling to contain the two largest fires. The Palisades and Eaton fires are only 11% and 27% contained, respectively. Thousands of firefighters have been deployed to fight the Palisades fire with heavy trucks and air support, the mayor’s office said. The city has also opened shelters for affected families.
No official cost estimates have been released, but analysts at AccuWeather last week pegged the economic cost at between $135 billion and $150 billion — less than the $250 billion cost of Hurricane Helene last year. At least 12,300 structures have been destroyed, according to CalFire.
President Joe Biden has pledged that the US government will cover "100% of the costs" caused by the disaster.
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has remained silent on whether he would provide similar assistance, continuing to criticize California officials. “Incompetent politicians have no idea how to put out the fires,” he tweeted. “This is one of the worst disasters in the history of our country.”
Newsom, a Democrat, responded to criticism from President-elect Donald Trump. “I don’t think that misinformation and disinformation is helpful or helpful to any of us,” Newsom said, inviting the president-elect to visit the affected areas but has not yet received a response from Trump’s transition team.
