At least 24 lives have been claimed as raging wildfires continue to devastate the Los Angeles area in California, according to the city’s medical examiner on the 12th of January, 2025.
A staggering 16 of the deaths are attributed to the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, while another eight are tied to the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades district.
Though the region has witnessed numerous destructive fires since the 7th of January, 2025, these two have proven to be the most catastrophic.
Officials remain concerned that the death toll could rise further as emergency crews face the challenging task of reaching all affected areas, a process that could take several days.
Firefighters are bracing for powerful gusts in the coming days, adding to what many are now calling one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.
The U.S. weather service has warned of wind speeds up to 110 kilometres per hour for the 12th of January.
These intense winds, paired with dry vegetation, are expected to fuel the rapid and erratic spread of both existing and new fires.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has issued a dire warning for “critical fire weather” through Wednesday, with life-threatening winds and dangerously low humidity predicted to sweep across Southern California, from Ventura to San Diego.
This severe condition poses a significant risk of swift fire spread.
The department urged people to take precautions, including avoiding lawn mowing, parking on dry grass, and ensuring all campfires are fully extinguished.
As of now, approximately 12,300 buildings have been either destroyed or damaged, and nearly 163 square kilometres of land have been consumed by flames an area nearly the size of Washington D.C. Governor Gavin Newsom described these wildfires as poised to become the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, both in terms of scale, scope, and cost.
In response, Newsom signed an executive order to temporarily suspend environmental regulations for the homes and businesses that have been destroyed.