Tragic California Fires

Another tragic wildfire hit California, this time beginning in the Pacific Palisades area. CBS News reports:

A brush fire exploded in size amid powerful winds in northwest Los Angeles Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of at least 30,000 residents in the affluent community of Pacific Palisades. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the windstorm hitting the region “is expected to worsen through the morning.”

• The Palisades Fire was first reported at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time Tuesday. It’s grown to at least 2,921 acres with zero containment, according to CalFire (the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection).
• More than 10,300 homes were threatened by the blaze, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The number of structures damaged or destroyed was unclear. L.A. fire officials said they had reports of multiple burn victims.
• Several major L.A. roadways were jammed as residents attempted to flee the area, with many being forced to abandon their vehicles in the road and walk.
• A second wildfire, the Eaton Fire, broke out Tuesday night in the hills above Altadena, a community in northern Los Angeles County, also prompting evacuation orders. It’s burned at least 1,000 acres, CalFire says.
• A third fire, the Hurst Fire, erupted in the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles late Tuesday night and quickly consumed hundreds of acres, CalFire said, forcing some evacuations.
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over the fires.

If you’re in California, you can track wild fires with updates from the state’s Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (Cal Fire). Click here to visit their tracking website. Some additional tips from Cal Fire include creating defensible space around your home, and hardening your home against fire, including: