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More than 100,000 residents in southern California were ordered to evacuate and five people were confirmed dead as wildfires raged across the Los Angeles region for a second day.
Fires spread into the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday, forcing evacuations from densely populated hillside neighborhoods overlooking iconic attractions, including the Hollywood Bowl and the Walk of Fame.
The Hollywood fire put further pressure on firefighters who have battled to control multiple blazes across the city and its suburbs since it broke out Tuesday in Pacific Palisades, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the US.
Insurers are bracing for what is expected to be one of the costliest natural disasters in California history.
Strong winds have fanned the flames in at least four different locations on more than 25,000 acres, sending dark plumes of smoke and ash across the city. Wind gusts ranged from 50 to 80 miles per hour across the region, the National Weather Service said, frustrating efforts to contain the fire.
Air quality in much of Los Angeles was deemed “very unhealthy,” with parts of the city away from the fires smelling strongly of smoke. At a press conference on Wednesday, authorities admitted they were struggling to keep up with the rapidly unfolding events.
Little was known about how the fires started, but the wind conditions that have allowed them to spread are expected to continue. Low humidity and drought conditions are expected to continue in Los Angeles and Ventura counties through at least Friday.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, which enabled the deployment of the National Guard. President Joe Biden on Wednesday released federal funds to pay for temporary housing, home repairs and loans to cover uninsured property losses. Los Angeles County said schools will be closed Thursday.
Destruction began Tuesday in Pacific Palisades, home to high-profile Hollywood stars including comedian Billy Crystal and Paris Hilton, whose homes were among more than 1,000 buildings destroyed.
The fire quickly spread as far north as Malibu and threatened buildings in Santa Monica to the south, as embers swept up by strong winds engulfed entire streets. The fire has since spread to more than 15,800 hectares.
Areas north and east of Los Angeles are also engulfed in flames, including the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, Altadena and Pasadena.
Efforts to contain the flames on Wednesday were hampered because so-called super scupper planes, which fetch water from the ocean, were stopped by strong winds. By evening, however, helicopters were dropping water on the Hollywood fire.
Pacific Palisades residents, some of whom fled on foot Tuesday, called friends and family to find out their homes were still standing. Many who evacuated to nearby Santa Monica were told they had to move again after the flames followed.
“This is a tragic time for our history here in Los Angeles,” said Jim McDonnell, chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. “It is critical that we are patient, come together and stay focused on saving lives.”
The fires have disrupted work in Hollywood and forced pre-Oscar screenings and celebrations to be postponed. Warner Bros. shut down its production in Burbank because of the fires, and Paramount postponed the premiere of its new film. Best man. Universal canceled a party Friday hosted by Donna Langley, chairman of NBCUniversal Studios & Entertainment.
Early predictions of financial devastation are starting to roll in, with AccuWeather estimating total damage and economic loss could be as much as $57 billion.
In the Palisades area, home prices average around $3.5 million, meaning billions of dollars in claims could be filed for that neighborhood.
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