California Wildfire Death Toll Rises as Los Angeles Braces for More Strong Winds

At least 24 people have died as devastating wildfires continue to spread across the Los Angeles area in California, according to the city’s medical examiner.

Sixteen of the fatalities are linked to the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, while eight others are attributed to the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades district. These two fires are the most severe among several major blazes that have been ongoing in the region since Tuesday.

Officials are concerned that the death toll may continue to rise as it may take several days for emergency services to reach all of the affected areas. Firefighters are bracing for worsening conditions, with gusty winds expected to pick up in the coming days.

These winds could exacerbate what many are calling one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. The U.S. weather service has forecast wind speeds of up to 110 kilometers per hour on Sunday, which, along with dry vegetation, could cause both existing and new fires to spread quickly and unpredictably.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has issued a warning of “critical fire weather” expected to last until Wednesday. Cal Fire officials have reported that about 12,300 buildings have either been destroyed or damaged by the wildfires.

Since Tuesday, nearly 163 square kilometers of land have been consumed by flames, an area almost as large as Washington D.C. Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking to NBC, described the wildfires as potentially the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, both in terms of its scale and scope, as well as the financial toll it has caused.

In response to the destruction, Newsom signed an executive order to temporarily suspend environmental regulations to allow for the rebuilding of homes and businesses that have been destroyed.