A major flare-up in the Palisades fire has intensified the critical situation in California, prompting new evacuation orders as firefighters struggle to contain the wildfires.
Why It Matters
The escalation in the blaze means that new neighborhoods and properties are under threat in the region. More than 5,300 structures have already been destroyed in the region, according to Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley, while at least two people have died as a result of the Palisades fire.
What To Know
The Palisades saw what marked a significant escalation in the wildfire decimating the area on Friday.
Status updates on the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) website show that the fire is spreading rapidly. At approximately 5 a.m. on Friday, the fire had spread to 19,978 acres. However, Saturday's update, from around 6 a.m. showed the fire covering 21,596 acres.
The CAL FIRE updates show that authorities are making progress in containing the fire, with 11 percent of the fire contained as of 6 a.m. Saturday, up from 6 percent on Friday. The number of structures threatened by the fire has also been downgraded from 13,306 on Friday to 12,250.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, containment refers to the measure of the amount of control lines around a wildfire. This means firefighters have established natural or man-made barriers around the fire's perimeter, not necessarily extinguishing the inferno.
Authorities said they were "definitely concerned" about Firday's flare-up of the fire, with new evacuation orders issued covering much of the Brentwood neighborhood and parts of Encino. Brentwood is home to the Getty Center, one of Los Angeles' largest art collections. Staff at the center are complying with the evacuation order, with only emergency staff on-site, Ali Sivak, a spokeswoman for the J. Paul Getty Trust, said in a statement, according to Los Angeles Times.
Overnight, helicopter crews worked to combat the fire, using water drops to suppress the flames, aided by relatively calm winds, the newspaper reported.
The Palisades fire is one of six active fires in Los Angeles.
Eaton Fire
On the city's east side, near Pasadena, the Eaton fire has killed at least five people, having spread across 14,117 acres, while five firefighters have been injured. So far, the fire is 15 percent contained, according to CAL FIRE. The Eaton Fire has grown from 13,690 acres at around 6 a.m. Friday. Altogether, 972 structures have been destroyed by the fire.
Kenneth Fire
The fire in the Calabasas and Hidden Hills areas was first reported Thursday afternoon and has spread to 1,052 acres. So far, it has been 80 percent contained, up from 50 percent in the early hours of Saturday.
A man was taken into custody Thursday afternoon on suspicion of arson in connection with the fire. Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said on Friday there was not enough evidence to charge him with a crime.
Hurst Fire
In the north, near San Fernando, the Hurst fire has covered 799 acres. So far, it has been 76 percent contained. The fire has spread marginally from 771 acres yesterday.
Lidia Fire
The fire emerged in Antelope Valley on Wednesday afternoon. According to CAL FIRE, it has burned through 395 acres. The fire is now fully contained, after being 98 percent contained at 1 a.m. Saturday morning, the CAL FIRE website shows.
Archer Fire
The blaze broke out Friday morning in the Granada Hills area during what officials described as "erratic winds." So far, it has burned through 19 acres, with 0 percent of the fire contained.
What People Are Saying
Jesus Ruiz, a spokesman for the L.A. County Office of Emergency Management, told The Washington Post the Palisades fire is growing "really, really fast."
He said the new flare-up was a "significant development," with the fire rapidly growing and moving in the direction of "a heavily populated area ... we're definitely concerned."
What Happens Next
Fire crews are continuing to fight the wildfires. Meanwhile, the Santa Ana winds in Southern California are expected to pick up again over the weekend and potentially into next week, National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Hall told The New York Times, threatening more destruction in the state.
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