Los Angeles wildfires claims 16 lives, destroys 10,000 structures

Los Angeles’ largest wildfire changed course on Saturday, prompting new evacuation orders and intensifying challenges for firefighters already stretched thin by multiple blazes.

Since Tuesday, six wildfires have ravaged Los Angeles County, claiming 16 lives and destroying or damaging 10,000 structures. Officials warned the toll could rise as search crews examine devastated neighborhoods.

While the Santa Ana winds fueling the fires eased Friday night, the Palisades Fire shifted northeast toward Brentwood and the San Fernando Valley foothills. “The Palisades Fire has a new significant flare-up on the eastern portion,” said Captain Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The Palisades Fire, the most destructive in the city’s history, has leveled entire neighborhoods, leaving smoldering ruins in its wake. Despite earlier progress, it remains only 8 percent contained, with the nearby Eaton Fire at 3 percent containment, according to Cal Fire.