A devastating wildfire in Los Angeles has claimed the lives of at least five people, as firefighters now face new blazes and struggle to contain the spread of the fire.
With firefighters struggling to bring the blazes under control due to strong winds and dry conditions, more than 130,000 people across the wider Los Angeles area are now under evacuation orders.
The Los Angeles County fire chief, Anthony Marrone, who confirmed the deaths on Thursday, said the five victims all died in the inferno which occurred in the Eaton region of the city.
During a news conference, Chief Police James McDonnell described the wildfire as a ‘tragic time in the history of Los Angeles,’ noting that it’s a moment when the community is ‘tested’ and will ‘see who they really are’.
“At these times we must be patient, that we come together, that we focus on saving lives and to be able to do the very best job we can,” he added.
McDonnell also urged those under evacuation orders to take them “very seriously”, saying they make “the difference between living and not”.
The new evacuation areas include parts of the Hollywood Hills, where a new fire, dubbed the Sunset Fire, broke out yesterday, as well as parts of Santa Monica.
Meanwhile, firefighters continue to battle the Hurst Fire, to the north, now at 700 acres, while firefighters from Los Angeles County continue to battle the Eaton Fire, near the city of Pasadena, as well as a new blaze near Acton.
TheGuild press yesterday, reported that the wildfire in the Pacific Palisades region of Los Angeles has destroyed approximately 2,921 acres of area between the coastal towns of Santa Monica and Malibu with officials warning that the situation can worsen due to powerful winds that arrived following extended dry weather.
