Los Angeles firefighters battled the flames for the fourth straight day on Friday, trying to control the wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 10 people.
Authorities warned that the death toll, updated Thursday night, could rise once multiple fires have been brought under control and workers can search the ruins.
Firefighting operations continued overnight into Friday morning, with helicopters dropping water taking advantage of a temporary lull in the winds.
The White House says President Joe Biden will convene key officials on Friday to discuss the federal government’s response to the wildfires.
Biden said at a White House briefing Thursday afternoon that additional federal resources and funding have been made available to California to combat wildfires he described as the “worst fires to ever hit Los Angeles.”
The money will be used, the president said, to cover all costs for 180 days of temporary shelters, the removal of hazardous materials, salaries for first responders and measures to protect life.
Vice President Kamala Harris, a former U.S. senator from California, also spoke at the briefing.
Harris described the situation in California as “apocalyptic” and “something that will have an impact for months and years to come.”
The vice president has a home in an evacuation zone, but it was not immediately clear if her home suffered any damage.
Authorities said wildfires burning in and around the city of Los Angeles have prompted the evacuation of nearly 180,000 people, destroyed thousands of homes and burned tens of thousands of acres of land.
“This is an absolutely unprecedented and historic firestorm,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
At a news conference Thursday, Los Angeles city and county officials provided an update on the fires and efforts to control them.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told reporters that the strong winds that had fanned the fires had calmed enough to allow firefighters to increase containment and aerial operations to resume.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said it is battling five active wildfires in the Los Angeles area: the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia and Sunset fires, with the Palisades and Eaton fires being the largest.
The start of a sixth fire, the Kenneth Wildfire, near Woodland Hills, was announced Thursday.
Some people are apparently attacking devastated neighborhoods, and at least 20 people have been arrested in recent days for looting.
“I promise you they will be held accountable,” Los Angeles Supervisor Kathryn Barger said at a news conference Thursday.
In Photos | Voracious flames continue to devastate communities in California. Five fatalities
The strong winds recorded in areas of California have made the work of firefighters trying to put out the flames and thus stop the devastation caused by forest fires difficult. Five people have died.
“It is a shame for those who are attacking our residents during this time of crisis,” Barger said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst and Lidia fires have prompted the evacuation of nearly 180,000 residents, and another 200,000 residents are under evacuation orders.
Fire Chief Crowley called the Palisades Fire alone “one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles.” Officials said Thursday that more than 5,000 homes and other structures have been lost in the Palisades.
[Parte de la información para este informe provino de The Associated Press y Reuters]
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