Catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires leave at least five dead, thousands displaced

A series of wildfires, fueled by intense winds and dry conditions, have devastated the Los Angeles area since Tuesday. The blazes have burned over 25,000 acres, forced more than 130,000 residents to evacuate, and claimed at least five lives.

The Palisades fire, the most destructive in the city’s history, has consumed 16,000 acres and remains completely uncontained. The Eaton fire in Altadena has scorched 10,000 acres and caused all five fatalities. Other fires, including the Hurst and Sunset fires, continue to spread, with varying levels of containment.

Tens of thousands remain under threat, and power outages affect more than 450,000 people. Experts link the fires’ growing intensity to the climate crisis, while initial damage estimates reach $57 billion. Efforts to control the flames are ongoing as firefighters face severe resource challenges.