LA Wildfires: Dangerous Winds Threaten to Fuel Blazes

Wildfires in LA County: Death Toll Now at 24; Thousands Ordered to Leave Summary Three days after the Los Angeles fires, California Governor Gavin Newsom reported that 24 people lost their lives as a result of the wildfires. Reports said that the fires spread on Tuesday and over 12,300 structures were burned or destroyed. Around 100,000 are under evacuation order, while others are not accounted for. Fire-fighting Containment Work Firefighters gained some ground over the weekend on two of this city's largest fires - the Palisades and the Eaton fire, giving themselves temporary reprieve by relaxing a bit on the pressure put on them by the power of the Santa Ana winds, which reached gale strength with hurricane-level gusts of wind at one point on Tuesday. Palisades Fire: it had covered 23,713 acres up to Tuesday and now was only 13 percent contained. Eaton Fire is in the east of the county. It is reported to have been 27 percent contained Hurst Fire. This one's on the north city side, and it was 89% contained. Other fires Three small fires that were declared fully contained as per CAL FIRE. While indeed they make progress, the officials keep their guards since the Santa Ana winds are gonna rise again. Weather forecasts give the impression of having winds 50-70 miles per hour or 80 to 112kph from this Sunday night down to Wednesday - a deadly time for fire in conditions. Fight against Fire and its Operations: The firefighters are fighting both the air and the ground in a battle with the fire. The aerial crew could retard the spread of flames by using the water from the Pacific Ocean as well as fire retardants. On the ground, teams held lines of fire which may allow Palisades fire to reach more dense parts of the city. City officials have warned the entire 10 million population of Los Angeles to be prepared to evacuate at the drop of a hat if fire conditions deteriorate further. Economic and Education Damage The economic loss is estimated between $135 billion and $150 billion by the private forecaster AccuWeather. That may eventually prove to be almost 4% of California's annual GDP, and it's supposed to be one of the most expensive wildfire events in the state's history. Yet on Monday, student attendance in schools from the Los Angeles Unified School District reflects the front on the education sector. Until further notice, schools in those areas ordered evacuation will remain close. Future Situations The situation is not yet safe due to the worsening of weather. The returning strong Santa Ana winds make containment a very hard process and have a higher risk of further disaster. Firefighters and city authorities are warning citizens to be ready and prepared in case evacuation is ordered. Conclusion The Los Angeles wildfires depict the severe and recurring weather issues in California. While firefighters have made some progress, the road to full containment is uncertain. First priority is taken in ensuring the safety of residents and focusing on huge destruction and recovery efforts in the long run.