A series of deadly wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area were still burning fiercely on Friday, decimating entire communities and leaving residents reeling as the infernos destroyed over 10,000 homes, businesses, and other structures.
Five fires remained active in Los Angeles County from the east and west, scorching more than 35,000 acres or about 55 square miles, an area larger than the city of San Francisco, according to Cal Fire. The largest blaze, the Palisades Fire, which ranks as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, scorched nearly 20,000 acres and was 6% contained.
Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire near Altadena and Pasadena was at 0% containment as it grew to over 13,000 acres. Several other fires have ignited across the county as fierce winds persisted, including the Kenneth Fire that broke out Thursday near the Woodland Hills neighborhood. The blaze initially prompted evacuation orders that have since been lifted.
The blazes turned entire neighborhoods into ash and forced almost 180,000 people to evacuate their homes. At least 10 people have died in the fires, according to the Los Angeles medical examiner's office. Authorities expect the death toll to grow.
President Joe Biden promised the federal government will cover the total cost of the wildfire response in Southern California for 180 days, with money going toward debris removal, shelter, first responders’ salaries and other measures.
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