(Image source from: Usatoday.com)
A wildfire in Los Angeles has killed at least five people, destroyed hundreds of homes and forced more than 100,000 people to evacuate. A new wildfire has reportedly broken out in the Hollywood Hills, while five other wildfires continue to wreak havoc in the county, Los Angeles Fire Chief Christian Crowley said. Strong Santa Ana winds, which normally pose a high risk of wildfires, fanned the flames and hampered efforts to extinguish the blaze. The fires particularly devastated the Pacific Palisades and Hollywood Hills communities, known for their wealthy residents. Pacific Palisades, home to celebrities such as Jamie Lee Curtis and Mark Hamill, was badly damaged and had to be evacuated. Millions of dollars' worth of homes and property were destroyed in the flames and more than 1,000 structures were destroyed. Evacuations also took place in the Hollywood Hills, where new fires broke out and threatened iconic areas. Nearly a million households are without power and schools across the city are closed. Many evacuees, including ordinary residents and celebrities, were forced to seek refuge elsewhere.
Other fires also destroy. Further inland, the Eaton Fire burned between 200 and 500 buildings north of Pasadena, severely damaged five school campuses in Altadena, and burned more than 16.5 square miles (43 square kilometers). The senior center staff pushed dozens of residents with wheelchairs and hospital beds into the parking lot and fled. The Hearst Fire, which broke out around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, triggered evacuations in Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley and grew to a square mile (2.6 square kilometers). Another fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills late Wednesday. Thousands of people were asked to evacuate. At least 100,000 people were ordered to evacuate, but this number continued to change as evacuation orders continued to be enforced. As of Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of people were in Pasadena evacuation centers. Many were old. The flames spread to densely populated and wealthy areas such as Calabasas and Santa Monica, home to California's rich and famous. Hollywood stars such as Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore and James Woods, among others, were forced to evacuate.
Poor air quality affects millions of people, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The fires filled the air with thick clouds of smoke and ash and led to air and dust warnings being issued for 17 million people across much of Southern California. The situation was worst near the fire. In East Los Angeles, the air quality index reached an unhealthy level of 173. Good air quality is considered to be a level of 50 or less. Fire smoke can cause heart attacks and worsen asthma, while burning houses can release cyanide and carbon dioxide, Dr. Puneet Gupta, deputy chief medical examiner for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Some events have been canceled or postponed. The NHL has postponed the Los Angeles Kings' home game against the Calgary Flames. They were scheduled to play at Kings Hall downtown on Wednesday night. The Critics' Choice Awards have postponed Sunday's ceremony until January 26th. The awards ceremony will take place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, just a few miles from Pacific Palisades. The organization that presents the Academy Awards has extended the voting period for Oscar nominees and postponed the announcement of nominees scheduled for next week.
