Los Angeles County Wildfires, Five People Killed and Thousands of Residents Evacuated

SEAToday.com, Los Angeles – Three major wildfires in Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the United States, have claimed at least five lives and destroyed over 1,000 structures, authorities reported on Thursday (1/9).

The fires, which began on Tuesday (1/7), were intensified by Santa Ana winds reaching speeds of over 112 km/h. Among the seven large fires currently burning, the Palisades and Eaton fires are the largest, together consuming nearly 105 km² of land.

More than 100,000 residents have been forced to evacuate, while power outages have affected over 1.5 million people. The fires have also blanketed the region in thick smoke and ash, raising serious concerns about air quality.

Authorities attributed the dangerous wildfire conditions in Southern California to a combination of strong winds, extremely low humidity, and dry vegetation. Gusts of up to 160 km/h were reported overnight, further exacerbating the situation.

A Particularly Dangerous Situation emergency alert is in place across the region and will remain effective until Thursday (1/9) afternoon local time.

This disaster has been labeled the most destructive in Los Angeles' history.