LA wildfires: Death toll rises to at least ten as National Guard sent in to stop looters
At least 10,000 buildings have been destroyed and entire neighbourhoods have been wiped out by wildfires that have been fanned by strong flames, ITV News Correspondent Robert Moore reports
There are five active wildfires in the suburbs of Los Angeles, with the latest in the Hollywood Hills area
At least ten people have died and more than 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate from their homes
At least 20 people have been arrested for looting or similar acts, with the National Guard coming in
At least ten people have died in wildfires raging across Los Angeles, authorities have said, with tens of thousands of people evacuated from their homes since the blazes began.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner said it has received notification of ten fire-related deaths as of Thursday evening.
It marked a doubling of the death toll, although the true number of those killed may not be known for some time, until it's safe for investigators to search the neighbourhoods ravaged by the fires.
Of the ten deaths so far, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley confirmed two were in the Palisades Fire. County officials said the Eaton Fire had killed five, with cadaver dogs and crews searching through rubble.
Who are the victims of the fires?
Rodney Nickerson, 83, was among the victims. His remains were discovered amid the charred remnants of his home after the Eaton Fire swept through his Altadena neighbourhood.
His daughter, Kimiko Nickerson, told US news outlet KCAL: "We found his bones; his whole body was intact."
Despite local evacuation orders, Nickerson chose to remain in his home.
“My son tried to get him to leave, my neighbours and myself, and he said he’ll be fine," Kimiko said.Other victims Anthony Mitchell, a 67-year-old amputee, and his son, Justin, who had cerebral palsy, were waiting for an ambulance to come but did not make it out, Mitchell’s daughter, Hajime White, told The Washington Post.Shari Shaw told KTLA she tried to get her 66-year-old brother, Victor Shaw, to evacuate Tuesday night but he wanted to stay and fight the fire. Crews found his body with a garden hose in his hand.
On Thursday, recovery crews pulled a body from the rubble of what was a beachfront residence in Malibu on the scenic Pacific Coast Highway. A charred washer and dryer were among the few things that remained.
A local Los Angeles resident appeared to be away when their home security camera system recorded footage of their property catching fire Tuesday night
Where are the active fires?
Kenneth: The latest fire Burning in the West Hills of Los Angeles County and rapidly spreading, covering at least 960 acres with firefighters containing 0% of the blaze so far. One man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with this latest blaze. Lidia - This fire near Acton, north of Los Angeles, has burned more than 340 acres and is 75% contained.Hurst - Located just north of San Fernando, the fire began on Tuesday night and has since grown to 700 acres. Firefighters have contained 37% of the blaze.Eaton - Burning in the northern parts of Los Angeles County, the Eaton fire has now scorched 10,600 acres with 0% containment, according to authorities. More than 1,000 structures have been destroyed.Palisades - This is the first fire to break out on Tuesday that has burned nearly 16,000 acres in Los Angeles, including areas in Pacific Palisades, with 6% containment. Arson investigators are currently looking into the start of the fire.
The two biggest wildfires ravaging the LA area have burned at least 10,000 homes, buildings and other structures, officials said, urging more people to take heed of evacuation orders after a new blaze ignited and quickly spread.
“We are expecting this fire to rapidly spread due to high winds,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said, echoing the forecast that called for winds to strengthen Thursday evening through Friday morning.
LA County has requested support from the California National Guard and is issuing stern warnings to potential looters, with at least 20 arrests made so far.
The city of Santa Monica declared a curfew because of the lawlessness, officials said, with National Guard troops arriving in Los Angeles on Thursday evening.
Earlier in the week, hurricane-force winds blew embers, igniting the Southern California hillsides, with fans flaming through the famed Hollywood Hills and a number of other neighbourhoods. Right now, it’s impossible to quantify the extent of the destruction other than “total devastation and loss,” said Barbara Bruderlin, head of the Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce.“There are areas where everything is gone, there isn’t even a stick of wood left, it’s just dirt, she added.
Firefighters have managed to fully control a fire that ripped through the Hollywood Hills, named the "Sunset Fire", but four other named fires spanned tens of thousands of acres and continue to devastate the region.
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The White House has announced it will increase funding to help with wildfire recovery costs.
“I’m announcing that the federal government will cover 100% of the cost for 180 days,” President Joe Biden said.
The money will be used to help with recovery including temporary shelters, salaries for first responders and the removal of debris.
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