Wildfires have taken their toll across the Los Angeles area, with thousands of residents being evacuated as the fire advanced uncontrolled. The fires have turned into an unmanageable calamity, with Santa Ana winds reaching hurricane-like force over 70mph (112kph). The heat and intensity of the fires, as well as masses of black smoke, made it virtually impossible for the fire department to stop the fires; the city is now in emergency.
At least five people have been killed in the fires up to Wednesday, and more than 1,500 buildings burnt down. These wildfires have taken their toll across so much of the city, in places as affluent as Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Hollywood, where houses and landmarks have come under threat of the flames. The Hollywood Hills has gone up in flames, people had to flee immediately, and experts wondered about the fate of the institutions: the Walk of Fame, for example.
More than 100000 people have had to be evacuated or flee, and some of them were celebrities and politicians. It also hit close to home with stars such as Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore and Paris Hilton all having their houses go up in flames. These mass evacuations have led to traffic jams as people struggle to leave the affected areas for their lives.
Due to this, firefighters from other states like Oregon, Washington, and Utah have been participating in the fight against the fires. Nevertheless, the reserve of supplies and equipment for Los Angeles’ firefighting crews has been very low due to the scale and intensity of wildfires. The so-called Santa Ana winds have exacerbated the catastrophe, as well as influenced the subsequent extension of the fires in zones such as Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, and others. This calamity remains unfolding as fires persist; estimates of the loss are still unknown.
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