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eureka dog online casino With Unprecedented Devastation, LA Wildfires Among Costliest Natural Disasters In US History
Aftermath of Palaside fires Photo: AP Aftermath of Palaside fires Photo: AP The wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County have become one of the deadliest and most expensive natural disasters in the United States. eureka dog online casino
Since the fires ignited earlier this week, they have claimed at least 16 lives, destroyed over 12,000 structures, and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate. As the fires continue to burn, their economic toll is projected to be one of the highest in US history, with losses reaching an estimated $135 billion to $150 billion.
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Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered an investigation into why critical infrastructure, such as a 117-million-gallon reservoir, was out of service during the fires. On the other hand, fire officials have criticised the city's leadership for not providing adequate resources for firefighting efforts, particularly when hydrants ran dry during the early stages of the fires.
Experts project LA fires to be the costliest natural disaster in US history
The economic impact of the LA wildfires is staggering, with early estimates suggesting that losses could range from $135 billion to $150 billion, making it the costliest wildfire disaster in US history. For comparison, the 2018 Camp Fire in California, which destroyed 11,000 homes and killed 85 people, resulted in $12.5 billion in damages. The high valuation of the properties affected, including luxury homes in Malibu and Pacific Palisades, has significantly contributed to the scale of the financial loss.
AccuWeather’s chief meteorologist, Jonathan Porter, noted that the fires are poised to surpass any other wildfire in California's modern history due to their proximity to high-value real estate. “This will be the costliest wildfire in California's modern history and also very likely the costliest wildfire in US modern history,” he said. While the state is no stranger to devastating wildfires, the concentration of destruction in densely populated, affluent areas sets this event apart from previous disasters.
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“To put this into perspective, the total damage and economic loss from this wildfire disaster could reach nearly 4 per cent of the annual GDP of the state of California,” Porter added.
Moody’s analysis also supported AccuWeather’s claim. “The scale and intensity of the blazes, combined with their geographic footprint, suggest a staggering price tag, both in terms of the human cost and the economic toll,” Moody's analysts wrote.
Death toll reaches 16 amid destruction
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that the death toll from the fires has reached 16. Out of those, 11 were from the Eaton Fire and 5 from the Palisades Fire. As the search for missing persons continues, authorities expect that number to rise.
The fires, which have already consumed around 145 square kilometres, have decimated entire neighbourhoods, including parts of the affluent Pacific Palisades and Malibu areas, home to multimillion-dollar properties and celebrities. The ferocity of the flames has forced authorities to issue new evacuation orders, particularly as the fires threaten to spread toward the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the iconic Getty Museum.
“We need to be aggressive out there,” said CalFire Operations Chief Christian Litz during a briefing, emphasizing the urgency to contain the Palisades Fire as strong winds from the Santa Ana system loom.
Firefighters tirelessly battle fierce conditions
Firefighters continue to battle the wildfires, while helicopter crews shower water on the Mandeville Canyon, home to high-profile residents such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, to settle down the fire. Ground crews worked tirelessly to hold back the advancing flames, using hoses to beat back the flames on steep, chaparral-covered hillsides.
The Los Angeles Fire Department is fighting the fires with limited resources, and allegations of insufficient funding for firefighting efforts have surfaced. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley criticised city leadership for not providing enough support to the department.
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Despite the intense firefighting efforts, the fires have become a major challenge due to the lack of significant rainfall over the past eight months and the extreme conditions brought on by hurricane-force winds and a prolonged drought. The fires continue to spread, now threatening to cross Interstate 405 into densely populated areas in the Hollywood Hills and San Fernando Valley.
slot cq9Search for missing persons underway
In the wake of the destruction, the search for missing persons continues. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, supported by cadaver dogs, is conducting systematic grid searches in areas reduced to rubble.
A family assistance centre has been established in Pasadena to help those affected by the fires, as families await word on the fate of their loved ones. Sheriff Robert Luna has urged residents to respect curfews and avoid returning to fire zones until it is deemed safe to do so.
Authorities are concerned about the toxic risks of returning to burned homes, as the ash left behind contains hazardous materials such as lead, arsenic, and asbestos. Chris Thomas, a spokesperson for the unified incident command at the Palisades Fire, warned, “If you’re kicking that stuff up, you’re breathing it in.”
Volunteers emerge as a ray of kindness
Amid the tragedy, the community has rallied together to provide aid to those affected. Volunteer efforts have been overwhelming, with donation centres receiving an outpouring of support. At Santa Anita Park and other donation sites, individuals who lost their homes were seen sifting through donated goods such as blankets, clothing, and household items. While some residents have returned to sift through the rubble for keepsakes, they’ve been urged to exercise caution and avoid disturbing the debris until it’s safe to do so.
In addition to donationseureka dog online casino, Los Angeles National Guard troops have been deployed to protect evacuated areas and prevent looting. Evacuation zones remain in place, and local authorities continue to stress the importance of maintaining public safety during this crisis.