JUST IN: The DC-10 tanker has dropped about 10,000 gallons of fire retardant to slow the fire in Brentwood.
The move was made after there was a “significant” flare-up last night regarding the Palisades fire.The DC-10 was manufactured by McDonnell Douglas and is somewhat… pic.twitter.com/glc1im0yI0
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 11, 2025
Over the past day, the Palisades Fire expanded by another 1,000 acres (400 hectares), consuming additional homes, reported Reuters. Since Tuesday, six concurrent wildfires across Los Angeles County have killed at least 16 people, destroyed or damaged 12,000 structures, and left 13 individuals unaccounted for, according to multiple media reports.
Image: Reuters
Worsening conditions and containment efforts
As of Saturday, the Palisades Fire had consumed over 22,000 acres, with 11% containment, said Cal Fire official Todd Hopkins. The fire had reached the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood and threatened Brentwood and the San Fernando Valley, raising concerns about its potential to cross the critical north-south 405 freeway.
“We’re in a continued period of critical fire weather through Wednesday,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld, noting the return of fierce Santa Ana winds through early next week, reported Reuters. Evacuation orders now affect 153,000 residents, with 57,000 structures at risk. An additional 166,000 residents are on alert for potential evacuation, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
Federal support and recovery efforts
President Joe Biden declared the wildfires a major disaster, unlocking federal aid through FEMA for affected residents. Assistance ranges from funding home repairs to replacing essential items like food and medication, FEMA spokesperson Michael Hart said.
Law enforcement has dispatched 40 search-and-rescue teams, including cadaver dogs, to locate victims and reunite families. Sheriff Luna urged residents to comply with curfews amid a surge in arrests for looting and firearms violations. “You go out there and violate this curfew, you are going to spend time in jail,” Luna warned.
Southern California Edison reported significant progress in restoring power, with outages reduced to 50,000 customers, down from over half a million. Edison CEO Steven Powell stated that while investigations into the cause of the Hurst Fire continue, no evidence has linked the blaze to Edison equipment.
ALSO READ: Los Angeles fire pushes northeast to threaten Bel Air, Brentwood
Economic toll and challenges ahead
The fires have led to estimated losses of $135 billion to $150 billion, according to private forecaster AccuWeather. Beyond the destruction of homes, the fires have exposed millions to toxic smoke containing traces of metals and synthetic materials. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara urged insurers to suspend non-renewals and extend payment grace periods for affected homeowners.
As resources pour into California from neighboring states, Canada, and Mexico, firefighters are racing to contain the largest cluster of fires in Los Angeles’ history.
With inputs from Reuters
