A ferocious wildfire continues to ravage Southern California, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Officials confirmed that five people have died as the Pacific Palisades neighborhood and Hollywood Hills endure some of the worst devastations in the region's recent history.
The fire, driven by strong winds, has destroyed approximately 1,000 buildings in the affluent Pacific Palisades area.
Over 70,000 residents have been evacuated as firefighters battle to contain the rapidly spreading flames, threatening several iconic landmarks in Los Angeles.
Economic impact could surpass $50 billion
A report by private forecaster AccuWeather estimates that the damage and economic losses caused by the wildfires may exceed $50 billion.
Jonathan Porter, the chief meteorologist at AccuWeather, warned that if the destruction continues, the fires could surpass previous records to become the most catastrophic in California's modern history.
Porter highlighted parallels with the 2023 Maui wildfires, which caused between $13 billion and $16 billion in damages. The ongoing crisis has exacerbated California's struggles with its insurance market, particularly after State Farm, the state’s largest insurer, announced it would no longer issue new home policies due to wildfire risks and climate change.
Public health crisis
The fires have displaced thousands and caused a surge in medical emergencies. Hospitals in Los Angeles are grappling with an influx of patients suffering from smoke inhalation.
According to Dr. Puneet Gupta, assistant medical director for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the inhalation of toxic smoke can lead to serious health complications, including heart attacks and worsened asthma.
Dr. Gupta also expressed concerns over potential hospital evacuations, warning of a looming healthcare crisis if facilities in fire-threatened areas are forced to shut down. The National Weather Service has issued advisories about "near surface smoke" affecting air quality in the Los Angeles Basin through Thursday morning.
Iconic hollywood landmarks under threat
The latest fire outbreak in the Hollywood Hills has put several world-famous landmarks in jeopardy. The Dolby Theatre, home to the Academy Awards, lies within the mandatory evacuation zone, along with the Hollywood Bowl and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Other affected areas include Runyon Canyon, a popular hiking destination, and residential zones stretching from Laurel Canyon to the 101 Freeway, Mulholland Drive to Hollywood Boulevard.
Military assistance deployed
In response to the escalating crisis, President Joe Biden announced that the military would deploy additional resources to aid firefighting efforts. The Pentagon is sending 10 Navy Sea Hawk helicopters equipped with water-carrying capabilities, while four modular air firefighting systems will be made available to the California National Guard.
“We are working closely with state and local authorities to ensure that resources are deployed swiftly,” Biden said in a social media post.
Power outages affect 1.5mln residents
The fires have also disrupted power supplies across Southern California, leaving nearly 1.5 million people without electricity.
Los Angeles County has been hit hardest, with over 957,700 customers experiencing outages. Neighboring Ventura, San Bernardino, and Orange counties have also reported significant power cuts, according to PowerOutage.US.
Trump blames wildfires on ‘worthless fish’
Amid the unfolding crisis, former President Donald Trump reignited a longstanding debate over California’s water policies. In a social media post, he blamed the fires on what he described as the state’s mismanagement of water resources, singling out the delta smelt, a tiny endangered fish.
Environmentalists and scientists, however, have dismissed Trump’s claims, stating that the fires are the result of multiple factors, including drought, climate change, and overgrown vegetation.
As California grapples with the immediate fallout of the wildfires, the state faces an uphill battle in addressing the broader challenges posed by climate change and its growing impact on urban and rural areas alike.
