California Wildfire Death Toll Keeps Climbing, Air Quality Worsens In Los Angeles

Wildfires in Los Angeles County continue to rage on, increasing the death toll and economic losses. At least 10 people have died so far and 180,000 residents have been forced to evacuate. Officials fear the death toll may keep rising as firefighters battle blazes fueled by dry conditions and powerful Santa Ana winds that are expected to persist through Friday.

The Palisades Fire, the largest of the six fires currently burning, has scorched nearly 20,000 acres — more than 30 square miles — and destroyed an estimated 5,000 structures. Only 6% of it remains contained, according to NBC News. Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena has consumed 13,690 acres and leveled at least 4,000 structures, with no containment progress reported as of Thursday night.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna described the destruction as "some of the worst" he has ever seen, comparing the aftermath to "an atomic bomb." Luna expressed concern about the growing death toll, saying, "I don't expect good news."

The fast-moving Kenneth Fire, which ignited in Woodland Hills on Thursday, prompted additional evacuations but was quickly halted, with officials downgrading alerts later in the day. However, an erroneous evacuation alert sent to nearly 10 million residents in the Los Angeles area caused widespread panic.

In Pacific Palisades and Malibu, entire neighborhoods, including some with celebrity homes in them, were reduced to rubble. The fires have destroyed critical infrastructure, including schools, churches, libraries, and businesses, with analysts estimating economic losses between $135 and $150 billion, according to AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impact.

Fire officials have made some progress containing the blazes, aided by out-of-state crews and calmer winds earlier in the week. However, gusty Santa Ana winds are expected to intensify, particularly in Ventura County and parts of the Palisades Fire area, posing renewed challenges.

"These fast-moving, wind-driven infernos have created one of the costliest wildfire disasters in modern U.S. history," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. "Hurricane-force winds sent flames ripping through neighborhoods filled with multi-million-dollar homes. The devastation left behind is heartbreaking and the economic toll is staggering. To put this into perspective, the total damage and economic loss from this wildfire disaster could reach nearly 4 percent of the annual GDP of the state of California."

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fires, which are unusually late in the season. The government has also not released an official count of the total structures destroyed. "We are expecting this fire to rapidly spread due to high winds," said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. As firefighters continue their efforts, officials warn that rebuilding the affected communities will take years, with significant challenges ahead.

Air quality continues to worsen as well, with several school districts cancelling classes. Sylvia Kotikian, a medical director at Adventist Health Glendale, warned residents to stay safe as smoke makes it difficult to breathe. "For a healthy person like me it's hard to breathe, so it's much harder for people with lung issues," she told NBC News.

"People who are home must have their windows shut and change their air conditioning filters or heaters. If you are in your cars, keep air recirculating instead of allowing it to enter the vehicle," she added. "Don't go out on the street."