The time is overdue to post something about the scourge of wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County. Dry Santa Ana winds, coming off the desert, were forecast with the unusually sternest of warnings a week ago. Then, as sustained gusts reached about 50 mph, the first reports of a brushfire went out—around 10:30 a.m. PST on Tuesday Jan. 7, 2024. Within minutes, intense flames and oversize flying embers drove forward what would be called the Palisades Fire. Ten acres would be burned by the top of the hour and more than 1,200 by 3:30 p.m.
Thousands of structures, including entire neighborhoods, burned to the ground in communities with names people living outside the state might recognize, such as Malibu and Pacific Palisades. The wildfire even destroyed businesses and homes along California’s scenic, and iconic, Pacific Coast Highway—someplace where residents would never reasonably expect such carnage.
Hurricane force winds of 75 to 80 mph, with some gusts reaching 99 mph, fiercely propelled the blaze and made difficult firefighting. For example: grounded aircraft capable of dropping water or retardants. Fire hydrants went dry, and fleeing Angelenos abandoned cars along highways like Sunset Blvd, which blocked firetrucks from advancing (bulldozers eventually cleared paths).
Two other nearby fires, Eaton and Hurst, caused their own devastation. According to reporting by the Los Angeles Times (to which I subscribe), as of this morning, Palisades has burned more 23,713 acres and is 13 percent contained; Eaton, 14,117 acres burned and 33 percent contained; Hurst, 799 acres and 95 percent contained.
Problem: The Santa Anas are back, and the National Weather Service has issued dire fire-risk warnings. Gusts of 45 mph to 75 mph, at least, are expected over the next couple of days. Palisades Fire has damaged or destroyed an estimated 5,300 structures, with another 12,000 reportedly at risk, depending which way the wind blows and containment. Eaton: 7,000 structures already impacted. I expect the week ahead will be as harrowing as the one past.
Los Angeles County has only ever seen this kind of destruction in countless movies. There’s a wickedly tragic irony that numerous Hollywood celebrities lost their homes to either the Eaton or Palisades fires.
Whomever shot the Featured Image and companions used a Canon EOS R6 and various lenses.
Photo Credits: Cal Fire