Firefighters in Los Angeles County are battling four life-threatening wildfires almost 24 hours after the first flames broke out in the Palisades area, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports. The fires were whipped up in a flash thanks to a combination of unusually dry weather and hurricane-force gusts that reached speeds of up to 99 mph (160 km/h).
Tens of thousands of LA residents have been evacuated from their homes and the four fires have spread across over 13,000 acres (5,260 hectares) have been burned by the four fires as of Wednesday morning (Jan. 8.) The fires have destroyed more than 1,000 structures so far and two confirmed fatalities have been reported, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The fires are flourishing due to dry conditions, while firefighters have reported that some hydrants in the Pacific Palisades are coming up dry, potentially hindering fire-extinguishing efforts, according to the Los Angeles Times. The blaze is expected to continue until Thursday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS.) Strong winds also grounded fire-fighting planes overnight, further hindering efforts to contain blazes, according to the LA Times.
The flames are being fanned by a dangerous windstorm, which could also threaten lives and cause damage to properties.
“A life-threatening, destructive, widespread windstorm is expected Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning,” NWS said in a warning early on Jan. 8. “Please stay indoors and away from windows during this time, and expect power outages.”