Firefighters battled to contain two massive wildfires in Los Angeles on Tuesday, aided by weaker-than-expected winds during the day. Despite the challenges of Santa Ana winds and dry conditions, containment efforts made progress.
- Palisades Fire: Burned 23,713 acres, with containment improving to 17%.
- Eaton Fire: Burned 14,117 acres, with containment reaching 35%.
Key Updates:
- Hazardous Conditions: Winds gusted over 50 mph, expected to peak at 70 mph overnight, prolonging red flag warnings until Wednesday.
- Fatalities and Damage: The death toll increased to 25, with over 12,000 structures damaged or destroyed. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble.
- Evacuations: Over 88,000 residents remain under evacuation orders, with 84,000 on evacuation warnings.
Response and Challenges:
- Firefighting Efforts: 8,500 firefighters, supported by air and ground teams, are working tirelessly, with additional fires quickly extinguished.
- Urban Search and Rescue: Teams are conducting systematic searches for hazards and lingering fires.
Preservation of Cultural Heritage:
The J. Paul Getty Museum, housing priceless artwork, remained secure due to its fire-resistant design. Getty Trust President Katherine E. Fleming emphasized that the collection is safer within the fortress-like museum.
Economic Impact and Political Debate:
- Economic Losses: Estimated between $250 billion and $275 billion, potentially surpassing Hurricane Katrina as the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
- Emergency Aid Debate: Republicans and Democrats clashed over wildfire disaster funding, with GOP Speaker Mike Johnson calling for offsetting costs through budget cuts—a stance criticized by Democrats as leveraging disaster victims’ suffering.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass highlighted the unimaginable destruction after an aerial tour, stressing the massive rebuilding efforts ahead.