Los Angeles wrestles with wildfire crisis that claims 10 lives, destroys property

New Delhi, Jan 10: Los Angeles is wrestling with a wildfire crisis that has already claimed at least ten lives, with officials warning that high winds could further intensify the devastation.

Five major fires are currently active, and authorities have detained a suspect linked to one of the blazes.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna warned that the death toll could rise as officials struggle to access the hardest-hit areas. In addition to the lives lost, the fires have destroyed thousands of structures, including entire neighbourhoods. The Palisades Fire, one of the costliest in U.S. history, has caused extensive damage alongside the still-uncontained Eaton Fire.

The local administration and fire services are facing severe challenges to combat the flames. High speed winds have grounded firefighting aircraft, including a Canadian CL-415 “Super Scooper” that collided with a drone, sustaining damage and further delaying operations.

The fires have disrupted fuel supplies to neighbouring states, including Nevada. Pipeline operator Kinder Morgan temporarily shut down two major pipelines, prompting Las Vegas officials to urge residents not to panic-buy fuel. Supply lines are expected to resume operations soon.

Amid the devastation, communities are rallying to support evacuees. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have donated clothing and essential supplies while urging others to assist displaced families. Several organisations are out for relief work including the American Red Cross and local organisations are providing critical aid.

A red flag warning, indicating extreme fire risk, remains in effect across Los Angeles and Southern California. The region is enduring a deadly combination of strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and above-average temperatures, regional media reported.

The severe drought, worsened by minimal rainfall this winter, has left vegetation dangerously dry, fuelling the fires.

The U.S. National Weather Service reports that wind gusts of up to 125 Km are intensifying the crisis, especially in mountainous and valley regions. While winds are expected to weaken slightly by Friday late afternoon, the danger persists with no rain forecasted and continued moderate gusts.

Residents in affected areas describe a dire situation. Raffi Bilemjian, a Pasadena resident, told BBC Radio about the overwhelming lack of resources and personnel on the ground. “No one really knows what’s going on… it’s pretty dire,” he said, adding that while Pasadena has largely escaped the worst, neighbouring Altadena has suffered devastating losses.

Confusion and fear were heightened by an evacuation alert mistakenly sent to all of Los Angeles County, causing widespread panic.

Firefighting teams anticipate continued challenges as winds strengthen again by Sunday and early next week. With no rain in sight and dry conditions persisting, officials stress the importance of vigilance and community cooperation.