Firefighters in Los Angeles are fighting several wildfires in the suburbs. Many residents have been forced to evacuate from their homes. The situation is worsening because of Santa Ana winds. Also, the dry conditions are making it difficult to put out the fires. Authorities are reporting that it has been difficult to extinguish the wildfires. Continue reading to learn all about the different maps of California fires.
Details About California Fires
Presently, four major fires are being tackled. In Los Angeles, the following places have been affected.
1. Palisades Fire
This fire is the largest and closest to the coast. It started on Tuesday at 10.30 AM. In just 20 minutes, it covered from 20 acres to 200 acres. By Wednesday night, it had reached nearly 16,000 acres. Over 30,000 people have been instructed to evacuate their homes. Also, more than 1000 buildings have been ruined.
2. Eaton Fire
This fire started in Altadena near Pasadena. It sparked around 6.30 PM on Tuesday. The fire quickly spread to 1000 acres in the first 6 hours. By Wednesday night, it had covered 10,000 acres. Furthermore, it resulted in 5 reported deaths.
3. Hurst Fire
The place is located just north of San Fernando. The fire started on Tuesday around 10.10 PM. It quickly grew to 500 acres. It has led to evacuation orders nearby Santa Clarita.
4. Woodley Fire
This is the latest wildfire. The Woodley Fire broke out at about 6.15 AM on Wednesday. It has shrunk to 30 acres in size.
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Spreading of the Palisades Wildfire
The Palisades fire spread extremely quickly. By 2.00 PM on Tuesday, it covered 722 acres. Within four hours, it had expanded to its current size. Thousands of people had to vacate their homes. Over 14,000 firefighters have been working non-stop to control the fire.
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https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/abe5/live/61e957c0-cde2-11ef-9fd6-0be88a764111.png.webp Map of Palisades Wildfire)
Comparison of the Size of Wildfires
The size of the Palisades wildfire can be understood when compared to other places. It can be compared to the size of areas in New York and London. The fire is similar in size when compared to Central London. Moreover, it can also be compared to large parts of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.
(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/064f/live/f22ce960-cde1-11ef-87df-d575b9a434a4.png.webp Map comparing to London and New York)
Satellite Images
Also, NASA’s Earth Observatory recorded images of the fire from space. These images display a large portion of smoke rising from California. This is moving out to the sea. This can be used to understand the extent of the Palisades wildfires.
(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/590d/live/5a6a3420-cde1-11ef-94cb-5f844ceb9e30.png.webp Satellite Images of California fires)
Effects of the Eaton Fire
The Eaton fire has also caused severe damage. The Jewish Temple in Pasadena has been extremely affected. This Temple has been serving the community since 1941. It has over 400 families in the congregation. The pictures reveal how severely the Temple has been affected.
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https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a002/live/b3387f00-cddf-11ef-94cb-5f844ceb9e30.png.webp Images of the Jewish Temple)
Government Response
President Biden took the initiative in a briefing in LA. This was conducted with California Governor Gavin Newsom and fire officials. He canceled a diplomatic visit to Italy. This was due to the severity of the wildfires.
Threats to Iconic Landmarks
The Palisades Fire has threatened several noteworthy landmarks. Flames came very close to the Getty Villa. This is a museum located off the Pacific Coast Highway. The museum carries over 40,000 priceless works of art. However, the museum was not affected. This was due to the extensive bush clearing recently.
Yet, the Pacific Coast Highway has been brutally affected. This highway runs through LA and Malibu. Flames have destroyed businesses and homes along the road. One of the prime losses is the Reel Inn. This was a seafood restaurant in Malibu. It has been a favorite for the last 40 years. Additionally, CBS News stated that Palisades Charter High School was destroyed in flames. This school has been known for appearing in many movies. These include Carrie and Freaky Friday.
Military Involvement
The U.S. military has sent resources to help fight the fires. This is being done in LA. President Biden announced that ten Navy helicopters with water delivery buckets were dispatched. They were sent to assist the firefighters. The helicopters left from a naval base in San Diego.
The California and Nevada Air National Guards have also assisted. They have initiated their Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System units. The units are expected to drop fire retardant. This will be dropped on the Palisades and Eaton fires. It should help contain the spreading fires.
As of now, the wildfires are causing mayhem in a lot of areas in California. Severe damage has been caused to a lot of homes. Businesses, too, have suffered. The Palisades and Eaton fires remain the most vicious. These have affected thousands of residents and landmarks. Although additional help has been sent, the firefighters still struggle.
