Los Angeles County is burning. Here’s what you need to know.
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What are the current wildfires impacting Los Angeles?
But first, to the devastating scenes in Los Angeles, where multiple uncontrolled wildfires have destroyed homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate.
The entire town, as we've known it for decades, is gone. We were running down, you could see palm trees, just like random palm trees on fire. So I'm sure leaves are burning and falling down, and it's literally apocalyptic.
This is the worst fire I've ever encountered.
There are at least five major fires burning. The first and biggest broke out in Pacific Palisades, followed by others near Altadena, the San Fernando Valley, and the Hollywood Hills. And authorities have said these are among the most destructive fires to ever hit Los Angeles. CNN spoke with Governor Gavin Newsom, who said their resources were maxed out quickly as these fires multiplied.
We've depleted all our resources. Northern California, we'd already pre-positioned on Sunday hundreds of personnel, specialty units, water attenders, dozers, engines, helicopters, and it wasn't enough.
Officials have reported at least five fatalities, but that's expected to climb as search and rescue efforts continue. Thousands of homes and buildings have burned. Authorities also say there are a high number of injuries to people who chose not to evacuate. Lots of people have lost power at some point, and there are air quality advisories in effect, with many saying it's hard and even dangerous to breathe. The LA Times warns that the tiny particulate matter in the air can travel deep into the lungs and bloodstream. The LA County Fire Chief, Anthony Maroney, said at a press briefing yesterday evening that firefighters and resources from other states, including Arizona, Oregon, and Washington, had arrived to help fight the fires. And the Pentagon has offered aid as well. L.A.
What is the human and economic toll of the wildfires?
City Fire Chief Kristen Crowley said at the same briefing that citizens should stay informed through trusted channels and that people living near wildland areas need to be prepared to follow all evacuation orders as soon as they are given.
We are not out of danger. You can see the active fires that are burning. With strong winds that are going to continue throughout the night, I can tell you and assure you that firefighters and first responders remain focused on protecting lives and property.
How are officials responding to the wildfires?
All Los Angeles Unified schools are closed today, and officials say two elementary schools that serve more than 700 students in the Pacific Palisades area were completely destroyed. And there's a reason that the fires got so bad so fast. There's been an unprecedented windstorm, with gusts reportedly reaching up to 100 miles per hour. Embers can travel for miles on a gust of wind. California is also in the middle of an unusual winter drought. This is typically the rainiest season. But according to the LA Times, the last time the city received more than a tenth of an inch of rain was last May. Here's Newsom again, speaking with CNN.
There's no fire season in California. It's year-round. But to have this level, the acuity of fires is without precedent. These guys were just up there to try to mitigate the embers going two miles and getting just to go a quarter of a mile.
Firefighters have struggled to contain the blazes because fire hydrants in the area are reportedly running dry or have weak water pressure. Fire officials say they were drawing water faster than tanks could be refilled. Here's L.A. County Fire Department Battalion Chief Brenda Simonian, who spoke with KCAL while she and her team tried to extinguish flames that were tearing through a senior center.
We're losing water pressure up here. We have a lack of resources. The wind, as you see, is pushing it very violently. And the lack of water is a huge, huge hurdle that we're trying to overcome so we can save as much as we can. All the hydrants have run dry.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What are the current wildfires impacting Los Angeles?
0:27–2:08
2
What is the human and economic toll of the wildfires?
2:08–2:36
3
How are officials responding to the wildfires?
2:36–5:37
4
What is the legacy of Jimmy Carter?
5:37–6:27
5
How did honesty shape Jimmy Carter's presidency?
6:27–7:15
6
What challenges did Jimmy Carter face during his presidency?
7:15–12:56
Speakers
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