Los Angeles: Wildfires are burning in Los Angeles for a fourth day, with at least 11 people killed in the blazes and 153,000 people under evacuation orders. Meanwhile, the LA county sheriff has warned that anyone found in curfew areas will be subject to arrest.
Six simultaneous wildfires have devastated Los Angeles County neighbourhoods since Tuesday, killed at least 11 people and damaged or destroyed 10,000 structures. Those totals are expected to grow once it is safe enough for firefighters to conduct house-to-house searches.
With thousands of people suddenly homeless and the thickening smoke leading U.S. officials to declare a public health emergency , firefighters reported progress arresting the Palisades Fire on the western edge of the city and the Eaton Fire in the foothills east of the sprawling metropolis.
After burning out of control for days, despite the efforts of hundreds of firefighters attacking the blazes from the air and on the ground, the Palisades Fire was 8% contained and the Eaton Fire 3%. Cal Fire had listed containment levels of both fires at 0% until Friday.
Two big fires combined had consumed 35,000 acres (14,100 hectares) – or 54 square miles, 2-1/2 times the land area of Manhattan.
Some 153,000 people remained under evacuation orders and another 166,800 faced evacuation warnings, with a curfew in place for all evacuation zones, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
