By Nathan Frandino and Lisa Richwine
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Firefighters continued to contain two Los Angeles suburbs that burned for a sixth straight day on Sunday, taking advantage of a brief respite from dangerous conditions before high winds are expected to fan the flames anew.
At least 24 people have died in what California Governor Gavin Newsom says could be the worst natural disaster in US history, which has destroyed thousands of homes and forced 100,000 people to evacuate.
The flames reduced neighborhoods to smoldering ruins, leveling the homes of the rich and famous and ordinary alike, and leaving the landscape unscathed. Officials said 12,300 buildings were damaged or destroyed.
“LA County had another night of fear and heartbreak,” said Los Angeles County Executive Lindsey Horvath.
Aerial firefighters, some of them dousing water from the Pacific Ocean, dropped water and retreated while ground crews with hand tools and hoses held the line of the Palisades Fire as it entered the upper Brentwood section and other neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
That fire on the west side of the town consumed 23,713 hectares (96 sq km) or 37 square kilometers and stood at 11% contained, a number that represents the percentage of the circle of fire that firefighters have control over.
I Eaton (NYSE:) The fire in the suburbs east of Los Angeles burned another 14,117 hectares (57 sq km) or 22 square kilometers – itself almost the size of Manhattan – and firefighters increased the containment to 27%, from 15% the day before.
In the north of the city, the Hurst Fire was 89% contained, and three other fires that have destroyed other parts of the city were now 100% contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported, although the areas are contained. lines may still be burning.
THE GREAT WIND RETURNS
Firefighters got a temporary break from the weather this weekend as winds in Santa Ana, which reached hurricane strength earlier in the week, finally subsided. Dry winds from the deserts fanned the flames and blew embers up to 3 kilometers ahead of the front lines.
But, in an area that hasn't received rainfall since April, the National Weather Service predicts Santa Ana winds of up to 50 to 70 miles per hour (80 to 112 kph) will resume Sunday night and end Wednesday.
Officials warned all residents of Los Angeles County of about ten million that anyone could be ordered to leave the flames and toxic smoke.
On Sunday, more than 100,000 people in Los Angeles County were ordered to evacuate — down from a peak of more than 150,000 — while another 87,000 faced evacuation warnings.
“These winds combined with low humidity and low fuel moisture will keep the fire threat across Los Angeles County very high,” Los Angeles Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told a press conference, adding that evacuation zones cannot be reopened until a red flag. conditions are raised on Thursday.
However, schools except those in mandatory evacuation zones will reopen on Monday, after the closure of all 429,000 students in the Los Angeles Unified School District on Thursday and Friday, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced.
Newsom told NBC News that the fires may be the worst natural disaster in US history “just in terms of the costs associated with them.” City of Los Angeles Medical (TASE:) The inspector reported 24 people died in the fire.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated damage and economic losses at $135 billion to $150 billion.
To help speed up the massive rebuilding effort ahead, Newsom signed an executive order on Sunday temporarily suspending environmental regulations for destroyed homes and businesses.
Active duty military personnel are ready to support the firefighting effort, FEMA Director Deanne Criswell said in a series of television interviews Sunday, adding that the agency urged residents to start applying for disaster assistance.
Firefighters from seven states, Canada and Mexico have converged on the Los Angeles area to assist fire departments from around the country.
THE HIGHEST PART
In Altadena on the edge of the Eaton Fire, Tristin Perez said he did not leave his home, defying police orders to evacuate as the fire raced down the hill.
Instead, Peretse persisted in trying to save his place and the homes of his neighbors.
“Your front yard is on fire, the palm trees are lit up – it looked like something out of a movie,” Perez told Reuters in an interview on his way. “I did everything I could to stop the line and save my house, help save their houses.”
His yellow one-story duplex survived. The same was true of two other homes in the neighborhood. Across the street, all the houses burned and collapsed.
“Many of these areas seem to have been bombed. There are live electrical wires, gas lines and other hazards,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
Zuzana Korda was evacuated from her home in the Fernwood neighborhood of Topanga, northwest of Los Angeles. Speaking outside the emergency services office at the West Hollywood Public Library, she said her landlord told her the home was still standing, but she was worried.
“We left everything behind. We have no insurance,” Korda said. “We have to lose everything.”