Death Toll In LA Wildfires Climbs To Five As Hollywood Residents Are Forced To Evacuate

Los Angeles is continues to grapple with the most destructive wildfires in L.A., fueled by hurricane-strength winds that are scorching the city. At least five people have been killed and over 100,000 residents have been displaced, with billions in damages. Fires have burned more than 27,000 acres and destroyed or damaged 2,000 structures by Thursday morning, stretching emergency services to their limits. Overall, around 130,000 people are under evacuation orders across the county.

A new fire, the Sunset fire, ignited Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, prompting evacuations around major landmarks, including the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Dolby Theatre, known for hosting the Academy Awards. Parts of Beverly Hills are also under evacuation warning. It burned 60 acres within hours.

The Eaton fire, driven by gusts of up to 99 mph, has burned 10,600 acres and forced mass evacuations, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Nearly 70,000 residents in the area remain under evacuation orders.

Meanwhile, the Palisades fire, which has burned more than 17,000 acres, has devastated multimillion-dollar homes along Pacific Coast Highway. Though no fatalities were reported, significant injuries have been sustained by residents and first responders. Water shortages in some areas have further hindered firefighting efforts, as crews found hydrants dry when they tried to douse the flames.

Across the county, firefighters battled high winds, dry brush, and low humidity as smaller fires broke out in Fontana, Sun Valley, and Brentwood.

The economic toll of the wildfires is staggering. Early estimates suggest damages and economic losses could reach between $52 billion and $57 billion, according to AccuWeather, potentially making it the costliest wildfire incident in California's history. Schools, businesses, and even major sports events have been disrupted, with the Los Angeles Kings postponing a game and the Lakers' next match uncertain.

Officials have warned that the situation remains critical, with red flag warnings in effect for Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with forecasts predicting life-threatening conditions through Thursday.

Firefighters face unprecedented challenges, with more than 2,500 personnel deployed to battle the flames across Los Angeles County and a shortage of resources and water supply issues in Pacific Palisades.

The causes of the fires are still under investigation. Southern California Edison, under scrutiny for its potential role in sparking the Eaton and Hurst fires, has cut power to over 170,000 homes and businesses in a bid to prevent further ignitions.