L.A., California, Jan 11, (V7N) – Firefighters are making progress in the battle against the deadly wildfires sweeping across Southern California, though strong winds are expected to return, increasing the risk of further destruction.

As of Friday, five major wildfires are active in Los Angeles County, burning more than 36,000 acres, roughly the size of Miami. The largest fire, the Palisades Fire, has burned over 20,000 acres and is only 8% contained. The Eaton Fire, near Altadena and Pasadena, has grown to over 13,600 acres, with 3% containment. New fires, including the Kenneth Fire near Woodland Hills, have prompted evacuation orders.

Impact on Communities The wildfires have destroyed more than 10,000 structures and forced the evacuation of over 150,000 residents. At least 10 people have died due to the fires, and authorities expect the death toll to rise.

Erroneous Evacuation Alerts Confusion over evacuation alerts has caused panic in some areas. Los Angeles County officials are investigating why these alerts were sent incorrectly. Kevin McGowan, director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, apologized for the technical errors and assured residents that experts are working to resolve the issue.

Water and Power Issues Residents in areas including Altadena, Malibu, Pasadena, and Pacific Palisades are under boil water advisories due to concerns over water contamination. Additionally, over 215,000 homes and businesses across California are without power.

Curfew and School Closures A curfew has been imposed in mandatory evacuation zones from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday. Anyone found disobeying the curfew may face arrest. Schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest in the nation, are closed for the day, as are in-person classes at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Federal Support President Joe Biden has declared the fires a major disaster and promised federal funding to cover 100% of the costs for firefighting and recovery efforts for the next 180 days. He urged those affected to apply for assistance at disasterassistance.gov.

Wind Forecast and Ongoing Fire Risk Strong Santa Ana winds, which earlier fueled the wildfires, are expected to return early next week, bringing gusts up to 65 mph in some areas. These winds could worsen the situation, making firefighting efforts even more challenging.

Personal Stories of Loss Residents like Sarah and Ben Treger, whose home in Pacific Palisades was destroyed, are searching through the rubble for personal belongings. The couple evacuated quickly, but their home was lost to the flames. They are now uncertain about their next steps as they struggle to find temporary housing.

Challenges in Firefighting Efforts Firefighting efforts have been hampered by a shortage of water. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power officials explained that water pressure was severely reduced after the city’s water storage tanks ran dry. Local utilities had also shut off power to prevent downed lines from sparking additional fires.

Legal and Insurance Protections In response to the widespread damage, California’s insurance commissioner has issued a one-year moratorium on homeowners' insurance cancellations in affected areas, providing some relief to residents who lost their homes.

Drone Incident A firefighting aircraft was struck by a drone on Thursday while operating near the Palisades Fire, leading to the grounding of the plane. The incident highlights the dangers posed by civilian drones near active firefighting operations.

Ongoing Investigations Los Angeles police arrested a man near the Kenneth Fire on suspicion of attempting to start a fire. However, after investigation, police found no evidence to support arson charges and the man was released on a probation violation charge.

Biden’s Remarks President Biden has urged state and local officials to spare no expense in combating the fires. He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to covering 100% of the costs for emergency response and recovery efforts in California.

The Southern California wildfires continue to wreak havoc, and emergency responders are working tirelessly to control the flames and support affected communities. Local authorities and residents remain on high alert as the region braces for more challenges in the coming days.

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