Six simultaneous wildfires raging across Los Angeles County since Tuesday have claimed at least 16 lives, left 13 missing, and destroyed over 12,000 structures, prompting mass evacuations and a desperate battle by firefighters.
The Palisades Fire, the largest of the blazes, has consumed over 22,000 acres and destroyed more than 5,000 structures, including 426 homes, according to CAL Fire official Todd Hopkins.
The fire is currently only 11 per cent contained, with steep terrain and erratic winds hampering firefighting efforts.
Fire Chief Anthony Marrone has warned that hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, which have reached up to 100 mph, are expected to return, further fanning the flames.
"Combined with dry air and dry vegetation, these conditions will keep the fire threat in Los Angeles County high," he said.
More than 153,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders, with a further 166,000 warned to prepare to leave. The fires, which have scorched over 39,000 acres, are threatening upscale neighbourhoods such as Brentwood, Mandeville Canyon, and San Fernando Valley, and are nearing the critical 405 freeway.
Video footage captured a dramatic fire tornado near the Palisades Fire, showcasing a swirling vortex of flames. Also known as "firenados," these occur when rising hot air and gases create a spinning column that lifts flames, debris, and smoke high into the air.
David Ortiz of the Los Angeles Fire Department described the Palisades Fire as "a monster with a lot of different heads." The fire continues to devastate communities, leaving neighbourhoods in ruins and displacing over 100,000 residents.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with systematic grid searches using cadaver dogs. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported that 13 individuals are still unaccounted for.
President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster in the region, unlocking federal aid through FEMA. He was briefed on the situation again on Saturday and assured state and local officials of federal support.
Neighbouring states, along with Canada and Mexico, have deployed firefighters and equipment to assist California. Aerial teams continue to drop water and fire retardant to contain the infernos.
Economic damages from the fires are estimated at $135 billion to $150 billion, potentially making them the costliest wildfires in US history.
The fires, which began on 7 January, have ravaged an area larger than San Francisco and remain a dire threat as authorities brace for worsening conditions in the coming days.
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