By MICHELLE TIO
Residents of Los Angeles continue to be ??? ?? ????affected by unprecedented fires that began on Tuesday, Jan. 7, with 82,400 currently under evacuation orders.
In a press conference Wednesday morning, L.A. officials announced that firefighters have contained 45% of the Altadena-area Eaton Fire and 19% of the Palisades Fire. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley warned residents to heed evacuation orders due to significant safety and infrastructure issues, such as unsafe water, broken gas lines, downed power lines, and hazardous materials.
Additionally, Crowley reported that strong winds and low humidity have increased the risk of fire, emphasizing that the danger has not yet passed and pleading with community members to prioritize their safety.
Dr. Nichole Quick, chief medical advisor for the L.A. County Department of Public Health, highlighted the importance of remaining vigilant about air quality. She advised that air quality index (AQI) instruments do not measure large windblown ash particles, so Los Angeles residents should look for ash in the air and in their surroundings instead of relying on AQI maps.
She also reminded the public that cloth masks, dust masks, and bandanas are not effective in protecting individuals from the hazards of wildfires and to wear N95 or P100 masks instead.
Sheriff Robert Luna reported 21 deaths in L.A. County, with the number likely to increase as search and rescue operations continue. Five missing persons have been found safe; 26 are still unaccounted for.
44 individuals have been arrested on charges of burglary, curfew, trespassing, drug possession, and gun possession. In the Palisades, an individual has been arrested for impersonating a firefighter.
While the cause of the major fires has yet to be determined, the LAPD reported accounts of arson. According to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, two individuals who admitted to setting small fires were arrested. One stated that he started the fire because he “liked the smell of burning leaves” while the other said that she “enjoyed committing chaos and destruction.”
Charity scams and price gouging have been alleged. District Attorney Nathan Hochman reported apartment rental and house lease increases of up to 300% and asserted that those who engage in such practices will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Yet while the devastation has been unfolding, the outpouring of support for those who have been affected by the wildfires has been staggering. Firefighters from nearby counties, states, tribal nations, and even countries have come to assist firefighters in Los Angeles. Stories abound on social media of communities coming together to help those affected, and countless donation drives have sprung up.
Angelenos have taken to social media, declaring their love for the city. As Los Angeles resident Kat Eves wrote on Threads, “As someone who has lived in L.A. for eight years, I am not at all surprised by the generosity of this place. This is the thing that people in other places, who have never been here or who only know the tourist spots, don’t see or get about L.A. A place full of dreamers is also a place full of people who follow their hearts.”