America on Fire By Adnan Shoukat

 

What we know about the California wildfires

• A series of destructive wildfires in the Greater Los Angeles area have killed at least 10 people and forced 180,000 from their homes. The true death toll is not known, authorities said, as fires destroy entire streets and thousands of structures.
• Dry conditions and powerful winds fed at least five blazes, causing unprecedented damage in highly populated areas not known for fires — and strong winds are set to last through today, further complicating firefighting efforts.
• The Palisades Fire has burned through almost 20,000 acres — more than 30 square miles — and has destroyed an estimated 5,000 structures. It was 6% contained tonight.
• 
  
  
  
  
• The latest brush fire, the Kenneth Fire, emerged yesterday afternoon in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, near Calabasas, prompting more evacuations. Evacuation orders were later downgraded and forward progress of the fire was stopped, officials said.
• An evacuation alert was sent in error to the phones of almost 10 million L.A.-area residents, a mistake likely to have caused panic and fear for many far from the threatened area.
• The Eaton Fire in the Pasadena area has burned across 13,690 acres and destroyed at least 4,000 structures. As of last night, it was zero percent contained.

• The Eaton Fire has burned through more than 13,690 acres and is zero percent contained, and it is estimated that more than 5000 structures have been destroyed, according to Chief Deputy Jon O’Brien of the L.A County Fire Department.

  The Hurst Fire has burned through more than 771 acres and is 37% contained.

  The Lidia Fire has burned through more than 394 acres and is 75% contained.

  The Kenneth Fire has burned through more than 1,000 acres and is 35% contained. All evacuation orders and warnings issued for the Kenneth Fire have been lifted.

  The Sunset Fire is contained with no structures destroyed and all evacuation orders have been lifted, according to L.A. officials.

  Almost 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as of last evening.

  At least 10 people have died in the fires that have swept across Los Angeles County, the medical examiner’s office said last night.