Firefighters yesterday battled to get on top of massive wildfires around Los Angeles as winds ramped up, pushing the blazes toward previously untouched neighborhoods.
At least 16 people were confirmed dead from fires that have ripped through the city, leaving communities in ruins and testing the mettle of thousands of firefighters — and millions of California residents.
Despite heroic efforts, including precision sorties from aerial crews, the Palisades Fire continued to grow, pushing east toward the priceless collections of the Getty Center art museum and north to the densely populated San Fernando Valley.
Photo: Reuters
In some areas, the fire had turned houses to ashes and left streaks of molten metal flowing from burnt-out vehicles.
Footage from the Mandeville Canyon area showed one home consumed, with a wall of flame licking up a hillside to menace others.
A brief lull in the wind was rapidly giving way to gusts that forecasters warned would feed the blazes for days to come.
Photo: Reuters
“Critical fire-weather conditions will unfortunately ramp up again today for southern California and last through at least early next week,” the US National Weather Service said. “This may lead to the spread of ongoing fires as well as the development of new ones.”
The Palisades Fire was 11 percent contained on Saturday, but had grown to 9,500 hectares, while the Eaton Fire was at 5,670 hectares and 15 percent contained.
Meanwhile, security checkpoints have left residents frustrated as they lined for up to 10 hours to try to get back in and see what, if anything, is left of their homes or check on family.
Photo: Reuters
“I have to be there to protect my family, my wife, my kids, my mom and I cannot even go and see them,” said Altadena resident Bobby Salman, 42, who was prevented from entering an evacuation zone.
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