At least 11 people have died because of wildfires in Southern California, according to NBC News. Firefighters got a short break as strong Santa Ana winds calmed down, but those winds are expected to return.
The New York Times reported that at least 18 people have been arrested for crimes like stealing and identity fraud during this crisis. The Los Angeles Fire Department declared a mandatory evacuation order. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “A mandatory evacuation order is now in effect for the Palisades Fire area!” This covers the region from Sunset Blvd North to Encino Reservoir and from the 405 Freeway West to Mandeville Canyon.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans for an independent investigation after concerns arose about firefighters not having enough water during their efforts. This situation is considered very serious. The largest fire, called the Palisades Fire, is just 8% contained, which means firefighters have managed to stop it from spreading in some areas. The Eaton Fire, east of there, is only 3% contained. Both fires are now among the top five worst fires in California’s history.
In a separate update, President Biden warned that while winds have calmed down, they could still cause problems until next week. He shared that he and Vice President Kamala Harris received updates from California officials and emphasized that their team will be working around the clock to help contain the fires.
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