LOS ANGELES — Firefighters worked tirelessly Saturday to combat the largest and most devastating wildfire raging in Los Angeles, as the fire changed direction and expanded by approximately 400 hectares. The Santa Ana winds that had been fueling the flames are expected to return.
"We must take an aggressive approach," said Christian Litz, Operations Chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), during a briefing on Saturday.
The National Weather Service forecasted stronger winds beginning Saturday night through Sunday morning, with additional gusts expected late Monday and into Tuesday morning. Winds could reach sustained speeds of up to 48 kph, with gusts peaking at 112 kph.
As of Saturday, the fire had claimed 11 lives, left at least 13 people missing, and destroyed more than 12,000 structures. Officials cautioned that the death toll could rise further.
Aircraft, including planes and helicopters, were deployed in an aerial assault on Saturday, dumping water to assist ground crews working in Mandeville Canyon and to prevent the Palisades Fire from spreading, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The shifting path of the Palisades Fire, the largest of five active fires, prompted evacuation orders for several areas, including Brentwood, Encino, and parts of the San Fernando Valley. The fire is also threatening the J. Paul Getty Museum and the University of California, Los Angeles campus. If it crosses Interstate 405, densely populated areas like Hollywood Hills and the San Fernando Valley would be at risk.
Todd Hopkins, a Cal Fire official, reported that 11% of the Palisades Fire had been contained by Saturday. The Eaton Fire, the second-largest blaze, was 15% contained, according to Cal Fire.
Together, the Palisades and Eaton fires have already caused unprecedented destruction, burning about 145 square kilometers of land and damaging or destroying approximately 12,000 structures.
Cal Fire is battling five active wildfires in the region: the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, and Kenneth fires. As of Saturday, the Kenneth fire was 80% contained, the Hurst fire was 7% contained, and the Lidia fire had been fully contained.
Amid the firefighting efforts, investigations have begun into why critical resources were unavailable during the crisis, particularly the empty Santa Ynez Reservoir in the Palisades and the lack of water at fire hydrants. Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley criticized city leadership and blamed budget cuts for these failures.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered a full independent review of the city's utilities, calling the lack of water supplies "deeply troubling" and demanding accountability for the crisis.
President Joe Biden spoke with Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Ventura County Supervisor Kelly Long on Saturday to receive updates on the wildfires. Earlier, Biden authorized federal funds to support California's firefighting efforts, including temporary shelters and first responder salaries.
Biden expressed his concerns about the growing impact of climate change, which has contributed to the severity of wildfires, and pledged continued federal coordination.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has criticized both Biden and Newsom for the wildfire crisis, blaming California’s water policies and demanding that the state send more water south. However, there is no central water valve that could resolve the issue.
Some residents were allowed to return to their neighborhoods on Friday, though officials warned them against sifting through the debris, which may contain hazardous materials like lead, arsenic, and asbestos. After damage assessments, residents will be allowed to return in protective gear.
In certain areas, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has been conducting grid searches with cadaver dogs.
Various experts estimate that the current fires in Los Angeles could become the costliest in history, with AccuWeather projecting damages between $135 billion and $150 billion.
"This will likely be the most expensive wildfire in California’s history, and potentially in U.S. history, given the fires are raging in some of the nation’s most valuable real estate," said Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather.
In response to the ongoing crisis, California’s insurance commissioner has implemented a one-year ban on insurance companies canceling or failing to renew policies for those affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires. There are growing concerns that these fires could accelerate insurers’ withdrawal from the state.
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